We, the representatives of Truth Hounds and the White Helmets, urge the international community to take decisive action in response to the intensification of double-tap strikes conducted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, particularly in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. This escalation appears to stem from an insufficient international response to similar actions in Syria, along with a lack of accountability for those responsible.
Read the statement in Ukrainian
The current situation highlights a critical pattern: impunity for international crimes tends to facilitate their recurrence, placing civilians in increasingly precarious positions. The absence of effective measures to address such violations undermines international norms and emboldens those who commit these acts.
The tactic of double-tap strikes results in significant casualties among the civilian population and often constitutes a gross violation of international humanitarian law. Our research confirms that Russia deliberately employs this tactic to inflict harm on civilians and humanitarian workers.
Russia’s double-tap strikes in Ukraine and Syria pursue a common goal: to intensify the suffering of those affected by the initial strikes, to physically destroy those whose duty is to provide help, and to undermine the ability of the Ukrainian and Syrian people to resist.
To prevent the recurrence of such attacks in the future, ensure accountability for those responsible in Ukraine and Syria, and provide support and protection for those who risk their lives the most, we have developed a series of recommendations.
Our Recommendations
To the Criminal Justice Actors of Foreign States:
- Initiate investigations and open criminal cases grounded on the principle of universal jurisdiction concerning Russian double-tap strikes conducted in Ukraine and Syria.
In instances where the legislative frameworks of a specific country limit the grounds for activating the principle of universal jurisdiction, resulting in an insufficient basis for prosecuting such crimes committed in both Ukraine and Syria, we recommend that this country at least initiate proceedings for the crimes committed in one of the mentioned states. However, even in such cases, it is crucial to analyse the actions of Russian armed forces in the other country as evidence of a consistent pattern and intent.
To the International Organizations:
- Support joined efforts to disseminate evidence-based data on double-tap strikes in Ukraine and Syria, enhancing global awareness and fostering public condemnation of these war crimes. This issue should be included on the agenda of international forums on human rights and international humanitarian law to ensure sustained attention to the problem;
- Urge criminal justice actors worldwide to exercise universal jurisdiction in prosecuting those responsible for double-tap strikes in Ukraine and Syria;
- Advocate for stronger sanctions against the Russian Federation as a state that systematically violates international humanitarian law.
To the International Criminal Court:
- Take into account the pattern of double-tap strikes in Ukraine when investigating attacks on civilian populations. Particular attention should be given to incidents involving missile weaponry and artillery, as they may reflect a deliberate adoption of this tactic and potential endorsement by the senior leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;
- Thoroughly examine cases of double-tap strikes targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
To the Governments of Foreign States:
- Enhance support for Ukrainian and Syrian rescue workers, medical personnel, and police by supplying replacements for destroyed specialised equipment and enhancing their personal protective equipment.
To Ukrainian Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutor General’s Office:
- In the course of investigating criminal proceedings related to double-tap strikes in Ukraine concerning specific suspects or defendants situated within the country, their potential involvement in similar attacks in other countries, including Syria, should be examined to ensure accountability under Article 8 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.