Ukraine has launched investigations into more than 122,000 suspected cases of war crimes since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly two years on now, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said on Friday.
“We have identified already 511 perpetrators. And we have already 80 convictions in Ukrainian courts,” mostly in absentia, Kostin told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference on international criminal law in Berlin.
Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence of murders and executions, shelling of civilian infrastructure and forced deportations, among other crimes.
The number of suspected war crimes committed is expected to continue rising, Kostin said.
Saturday marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers and many Russian soldiers have been killed during the war, which has also devastated towns and villages in eastern Ukraine and has prompted millions to flee abroad.
The international community’s help is needed in documenting, investigating and prosecuting war crimes, Kostin said, adding however that “99-plus percent of all cases will be investigated and prosecuted in Ukraine”.
Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence of murders and executions, shelling of civilian infrastructure and forced deportations, among other crimes.
The number of suspected war crimes committed is expected to continue rising, Kostin said.
Saturday marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers and many Russian soldiers have been killed during the war, which has also devastated towns and villages in eastern Ukraine and has prompted millions to flee abroad.
The international community’s help is needed in documenting, investigating and prosecuting war crimes, Kostin said, adding however that “99-plus percent of all cases will be investigated and prosecuted in Ukraine”.
Source: Reuters
More In Society MORE...
