A mission of experts set up by Organization for Security and Co-operation and Europe (OSCE) nations has found evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russia in Ukraine, the mission said in a report.

The mission was set up in March by 45 of the OSCE’s 57 participating states to look into possible offences in Ukraine including war crimes and to pass on information to bodies such as international tribunals. Russia opposed it.

The OSCE is an international organization that includes former Cold War foes the US and Russia and various countries in Europe, Central Asia and North America.

“The mission found clear patterns of IHL (international humanitarian law) violations by the Russian forces”, - the report said, citing failures to take necessary precautions, act proportionately or spare sites like schools and hospitals.

Not all violations of international humanitarian law are war crimes. The mission comprised three professors of international law from Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.