war crimes

How Trump's cuts to U.S. foreign aid are imperiling Syria's war crimes investigations

9:37am April 15, 2025

When former leader Bashar al-Assad fell, new Syria war crimes investigations began. But U.S. budget cuts have halted some work. For families of the disappeared, it means justice delayed or denied.

Queue Listen Now

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at a press conference on Dec. 6, 2023, about DOJ's indictment of four Russian military personnel for war crimes committed against a U.S. national living in Ukraine, the first of such charges ever to be brought under the U.S. war crimes statute.

Politics & Government

DOJ takes a stand against war crimes in Ukraine. In Gaza war, it's been nearly silent

10:37am April 04, 2024

by Ryan Lucas

The Justice Department has taken an active — and public — stand against alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. But it's been nearly silent on possible war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war.

Queue Listen Now

Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks with reporters during a news conference at the Department of Justice on Wednesday as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, right, looks on.

Politics & Government

U.S. unveils war crimes charges against 4 Russian-allied troops

1:05pm December 06, 2023

by Washington Desk

The indictment, unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia, marks the first time the U.S. has brought war crimes charges in connection with the Russian assault on Ukraine.

An injured Palestinian boy is carried away in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike outside the entrance of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Nov. 3. Israel said it targeted Hamas members using an ambulance to leave the hospital. Hamas denied this. Hospital officials said 13 people were killed and dozens injured.

World News

Hospitals are protected in war. But the safeguard is not absolute

10:57am November 10, 2023

by Greg Myre

This question is part of the bitter Israeli-Palestinian debate over the war in Gaza, where thousands of civilians have been killed.

Ben Roberts-Smith arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney, on June 9, 2021. Australia's most decorated living war veteran, Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, committed a slew of war crimes while in Afghanistan, including the unlawful killings of unarmed prisoners, a judge ruled on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

World News

Australia's most decorated soldier loses defamation case for alleged war crimes

10:17am June 01, 2023

by The Associated Press

An Australian federal court judge ruled that newspaper articles published in 2018 were substantially true about a number of war crimes committed by Ben Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan.

The destroyed section of the Antonivka bridge over the Dnipro river is seen on Nov 18, 2022, in Kherson, Ukraine.

World News

Ukrainian journalist's death leads to investigation and criticism

9:51am April 27, 2023

by Julian Hayda

Bogdan Bitik was shot while on the Antonivka bridge in Kherson. He was working with an Italian journalist who was also shot but survived. Ukraine has launched a war crimes investigation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to a regional governor via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 21, 2022. The International Criminal Court said Friday it has issued an arrest warrant for Putin and his children's rights commissioner for possible war crimes.

World News

The International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Putin

7:32pm March 17, 2023

by International Desk

The ICC has issued warrants for the Russian president and his children's rights commissioner for alleged war crimes involving accusations that Russia has forcibly taken Ukrainian children.

Queue Listen Now

A commercial satellite image of a facility known as Gornyi Kluch, or "Mountain Key," in October 2022. The camp is one of more than 40 locations in Russia verified by a team of researchers at Yale University to have been part of Russia's system of camps for and adoptions of children from Ukraine.

World News

Russia deports thousands of Ukrainian children. Investigators say that's a war crime

3:58pm February 14, 2023

by Deborah Amos

A team at Yale University is using open-source materials to document the forced removal of Ukrainian children to Russia. Russia says it's a vast humanitarian program.

Anya Breus, Oleksandr's sister, launched a search for her brother when the family hadn't heard from him.

World News

There have been 50,000 alleged war crimes in Ukraine. We worked to solve one

9:18am December 10, 2022

by Tim Mak

Investigators in Ukraine have opened more than 50,000 inquiries into alleged Russian war crimes since the war began. NPR looked into the death of one man to show the challenges investigators face.

Queue Listen Now

Senior Crisis Advisor of Amnesty International Donatella Rovera (center) released a report August 4, 2022 condemning the Ukrainian army for putting civilians at risk, a possible war crime.

World News

Amnesty International's report criticizing Ukraine is dividing the rights group

10:38am August 05, 2022

by Julian Hayda

A report says Ukraine placed its forces near noncombatants, putting them in danger. Government officials say they evacuate civilians from combat areas, and that the report depicts "a false reality."