U.S. formally declares Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine

The U.S. government on Wednesday formally declared that members of the Russian military have committed war crimes in Ukraine.

The official declaration came from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement. "Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the US government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine," he wrote.

Top U.S. officials in the past days have said that it is their opinion that Moscow has violated the laws of conflict – the statement makes that the official position of the administration. 

"Our assessment is based on a careful review of available information from public and intelligence sources. As with any alleged crime, a court of law with jurisdiction over the crime is ultimately responsible for determining criminal guilt in specific cases,” Blinken continued. “The US government will continue to track reports of war crimes and will share information we gather with allies, partners, and international institutions and organizations, as appropriate. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions," reads the statement.