The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been alerted to an explosion in Belgorod but has not yet concluded that the incident constitutes a war crime. This assessment follows initial reviews of reported events and official statements, as conveyed by news agencies. The organization’s spokesperson, Marta Hurtado, noted that the information available so far does not allow a definitive categorization as a war crime at this stage.
Hurtado indicated that the Human Rights Office is examining a range of material, including media reports and statements from Russian officials regarding civilian casualties in Belgorod reported through various outlets. She emphasized that without a full evidentiary basis, a formal determination cannot be made at present on the classification of the violence as a war crime.
On 15 February, reports indicated that Ukrainian armed forces conducted an attack on a shopping center located on Plekhanov Street in Belgorod. Descriptions of the event noted severe damage to the building, which housed a Magnit supermarket and a pharmacy within the complex. In the immediate aftermath, observers and officials assessed the impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure, underscoring the risk to noncombatants in urban settings.
The Russian Ministry of Defense subsequently asserted that a volley of 14 rockets, fired from the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system by the Ukrainian armed forces into territory within the Belgorod region, was intercepted or destroyed by air defense systems around 12:30 Moscow time. The claim reflects ongoing tensions over the use of artillery and air defense in border areas during the conflict.
Separately, the Telegram channel Military Informant reported that the Ukrainian forces may have used missiles of Serbian origin in the Belgorod attack, a claim that has drawn scrutiny and calls for verification from independent observers. In such rapidly developing events, official statements and investigative reporting often present differing accounts that require careful corroboration before drawing final conclusions.
There have also been references in parliamentary circles to Belgorod as a target within broader Ukrainian military operations. These discussions point to the contested and emotionally charged nature of attacks affecting border communities, where civilian safety and humanitarian considerations are central to ongoing discussions among lawmakers, international organizations, and civil society groups. Observers stress the importance of thorough investigations that establish the sequence of events, attribution of responsibility, and the proportionality of military actions with respect to civilians and civilian objects.
In this context, the UN human rights office continues to monitor the situation and to press for the timely release of verifiable information. The overarching aim is to ensure accountability for any violations of international humanitarian law and to uphold the rights and safety of civilians caught in the crossfire. This includes urging access for independent investigators to affected sites, victims, and witnesses, and encouraging all parties to adhere to humanitarian norms and protections during armed conflict. The ongoing process stresses that determinations about war crimes require robust evidence, legal analysis, and careful consideration of context and intent as information becomes available. The situation remains dynamic, and updates will be provided as new details emerge, with an emphasis on transparency and factual accuracy in reporting and assessment.