The International Criminal Court (ICC) wants to prosecute Russians for war crimes in Ukraine, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing two primary cases: children transferred to Russia and deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure.
The ICC prosecutor's office, which is based in The Hague, said it would make "
no comment
".
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According to the American media, the first case concerns the kidnapping of Ukrainian children who were then sent for adoption or to re-education camps.
"Motion for Justice"
The second case concerns accusations that Russian forces deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure such as power and water plants with missiles.
The court, created in 2002 to try the worst crimes committed in the world, would also, according to the New York Times, intend to request arrest warrants against several people.
The outlet quotes unnamed current and former ICC officials, and gave no details on who would be charged and when.
The ICC has been investigating for more than a year into possible war crimes or crimes against humanity committed during the Russian offensive.
His prosecutor Karim Khan said earlier this month after a visit to Ukraine that the alleged child abductions were "
under investigation with priority
".
"
Children cannot be treated as spoils of war
," he said in a statement on March 7.
Read alsoIn Ukraine, the atrocious litany of war crimes committed by Russian forces
Karim Khan pointed out that he had visited a child care center in southern Ukraine which was "
empty, following the alleged deportation of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation
" or other occupied areas.
The prosecutor said he was investigating attacks on "
critical civilian infrastructure
" and had visited the sites of several such strikes.
Karim Khan added that he had "
the feeling that the momentum for justice is accelerating
".
Karim Khan has previously described Ukraine as a "
crime scene
", and also visited the locality of Boutcha, near Kiev, where AFP journalists saw at least 20 bodies lying in a street.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine are members of the ICC, but kyiv has accepted the court's jurisdiction over its territory and is working with the prosecutor.
Russia denies war crimes allegations.
Experts admitted she was unlikely to hand over any suspects.
