Bombing Ukraine homes should be considered a war crime, say Canadian experts

Bree Akesson empathizes with Ukranian families who have fled their homes during the Russian invasion that began three weeks ago.

Akesson is an associate professor in the faculty of social work and social justice and community engagement (SJCE) graduate program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. She has met with refugees displaced by other wars, forced to flee with only the clothes on their back and a few personal items.

"It's a huge loss that can cause significant distress when people are leaving. And we're watching people cross the border, and they're leaving their husbands, fathers, brothers, sons behind," said Akesson of the conflict in Ukraine.

She hopes the international community will respond to the Russian forces that destroyed residential neighbourhoods by recognizing the human cost of losing a family home to war.  

"Russia's destruction of homes and the specific targeting of homes of civilians in Ukraine is very much against international humanitarian law, and we are arguing that it should be a war crime," said Akesson.  

On Tuesday the UN human rights office said it had confirmed 406 civilian deaths, with 801 people injured since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The agency noted the toll is likely much higher. Thus far, at least two million people have been displaced.

Michel Drapeau, a lawyer practiisng military law in Ottawa, agrees the attacks on towns, villages and dwellings in Ukraine could be considered as a war crime.

"One of the basic principles is if you go to war, you're going to war with the army against someone else's army, not against a civilian population," said Drapeau, also an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa.

"You have to take means and precaution to ensure that if you're going to be destroying a military objective or target of some sort, that you are careful not to inflict unnecessary damage, pain or loss of life to the civilian population." 

Reports indicate Russian-led forces have harmed civilians and struck civilian buildings, including schools and hospitals. NATO officials have accused Russia of using cluster munition in their attacks on Ukraine — bombs that can kill indiscriminately and are banned under international law.

Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.

In Akesson's previous research, she spoke to Syrian refugees forced to leave their home country for Lebanon because of the conflict in their country. 

"All the conversations I have with people, displaced by war and who are finding themselves in a different country or in a different setting … talk about home and how important home is and how much they miss home," said Akesson. 

"And actually, some families are just waiting there, just waiting in limbo, waiting to return home."