Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced charges against four members of the Russia-affiliated military for war crimes. These charges are linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the alleged torture of an American resident in Ukraine.

In a statement released by the Department of Justice, Garland said, "The Justice Department has filed the first ever charges under the U.S. war crimes statute against four Russia-affiliated military personnel for heinous crimes against an American citizen. Congress passed the U.S. war crimes statute nearly 30 years ago to give us jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes committed against American citizens abroad. In an indictment returned yesterday in the Eastern District of Virginia, we have charged four Russia-affiliated military personnel with war crimes against an American citizen living in Ukraine. The charges include conspiracy to commit war crimes, including war crimes outlawed by the international community after World War II — unlawful confinement, torture, and inhuman treatment."

The Department of Justice alleges that these war crimes were committed against an American citizen residing in Ukraine in April 2022. Following his capture, it is claimed that the defendants assaulted him with their firearms, restrained him with his hands tied behind his back, and threatened him at gunpoint. The victim was reportedly held captive by Russia-affiliated forces for ten days during which he was subjected to torture, forced labor, and execution threats. These prosecutions form part of a broader initiative by the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to hold Russian military officials accountable for brutal acts committed against Americans residing in Ukraine.

According to a report published by the Council on Foreign Relations, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since then, Ukraine has regained approximately 54 percent of its territory previously occupied by Russia. Military casualties are estimated to have surpassed half a million during this conflict while around 5.1 million people have been internally displaced. International aid extended towards Ukraine has exceeded $350 billion, with the United States contributing $77 billion.