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On 18 June, Truth Hounds presented the key findings of our new report, “Calculated Harm”, which analyses Russian attacks on emergency responders in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 to 31 October 2025. It identifies recurring patterns in these attacks across time, geography and weapon type, examines their possible rationales, and assesses their implications for emergency response efforts in Ukraine. The report also considers possible legal characterisations of these attacks under international humanitarian law and, where relevant, the Rome Statute.
Calculated Harm: Attacks on Emergency Responders in Ukraine
During the discussion, Anhelina Hrytsei, Researcher at Truth Hounds, focused on the study’s quantitative findings, including the distribution of attacks on emergency responders by year and oblast, as well as the distribution of double-tap strikes between 2022 and 2025. Truth Hounds identified 401 incidents during the study period in which attacks killed or injured emergency responders, damaged fire stations or emergency response vehicles, or forced responders to suspend operations due to repeated attacks.
Anhelina Hrytsei also highlighted the apparent rationale behind double-tap strikes: achieving military objectives; complicating or preventing emergency response operations; weakening civilian morale; and increasing civilian vulnerability. She further explained that attacks on fire stations appear intended to complicate or prevent the functioning of emergency response units, undermine the resilience of local populations in the face of emergencies, and reduce the state’s presence in frontline areas.
Liliia Lakhnech, Legal Counsel at Truth Hounds, discussed the implications of these attacks for national and international accountability efforts. Possible legal qualifications include:
- the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population under Article 8(2)(b)(i) of the Rome Statute;
- the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects under Article 8(2)(b)(ii) of the Rome Statute; and
- acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population, in violation of Rule 2 of Customary International Humanitarian Law and Article 51(2) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.
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We would like to express our sincere gratitude to:
- The Howard G. Buffett Foundation for supporting the publication of these reports;
- Our colleagues at Project Expedite Justice, with whom we collaborated in preparing the reports;
- Pavlo Petrov for providing photographs to illustrate the “Calculated Harm” research.
Flood and Fire: Russia’s Disruption of Emergency Response in Ukraine after the Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam
Roman Koval, Head of Research at Truth Hounds, spoke about the emergency response following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) on 6 June 2023. Truth Hounds’ study “Flood and Fire” examines how Russian forces and occupation authorities disrupted, obstructed and endangered volunteer emergency rescue efforts following the destruction of the dam. The available evidence indicates that the actions of Russian forces and occupation authorities in response to the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law, including potential violations of the rules protecting civilians, humanitarian relief, civil defence, and people living under occupation.
On the Ukrainian-controlled right bank of the Dnipro, emergency responders and volunteers began evacuations within hours. They supported overstretched state services by participating directly in rescue operations, providing targeted assistance to specific groups, including older people and persons with disabilities or reduced mobility, and coordinating efforts among different actors. Russian forces repeatedly shelled the areas where these rescue operations were taking place. Volunteers interviewed by Truth Hounds described mortar and artillery fire near evacuation points, boats, flooded residential streets, and clearly marked emergency responders.
On the Russian-occupied left bank, where the flooding caused the greatest damage, the Russian occupation authorities failed to organise an adequate emergency response during the crucial first days after the dam’s destruction. Witnesses told Truth Hounds that local residents had to rescue one another because official assistance never arrived.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to:
- The Howard G. Buffett Foundation for supporting the publication of these reports;
- Our colleagues at Project Expedite Justice, with whom we collaborated in preparing the reports;
- Pavlo Petrov for providing photographs to illustrate the “Calculated Harm” research.
Above all, we are deeply grateful to the Ukrainian emergency responders who have dedicated their lives to saving others and continue to do so despite everything.