Ukraine Crisis
“President of the aggressor” – Investigating Putin’s war crimes
The fight in Ukraine isn’t just on the battlefield – but also in the courtroom, with thousands upon thousands of Russian war crimes currently under investigation
Over 6,300 Russian war crimes are under investigation in Ukraine.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, another 2,941 Russian crimes against Ukraine’s national security are also being investigated.
Right across shattered Ukraine, testimony as well as evidence is being collected, all in hopes that the International Criminal Court will find Russia guilty of committing war crimes within Ukraine.
Countries right across the world, including Britain, the United States and Australia have condemned the actions by the Kremlin, hoping that international justice will be served.
An investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Russia is right now being led by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova – who was appointed two years ago to the top job.
She watched the exhumation of another mass grave this week, beneath a gold-domed church in Bucha, where the “darkest of sins” were discovered – 10 victims this time, some completely charred.
Remains of those killed continue to be placed into body bags and taken off for identification.
“A lot of people speak about the genocide of the Ukrainian people – and we actually have grounds to talk about genocide,”
– Iryna Venediktova.
Will Putin be held to account?
Venediktova is confident that Russia will bare the consequences for its actions in Ukraine, but says that as the war goes on, more will die and others become displaced, until guns are put down.
She says Vladimir Putin is the man responsible for such crimes.
“Vladimir Putin is the president of the aggressor country killing civilians here in Ukraine. He’s responsible.”
Japan’s government is considering sending three prosecutors to the International Criminal Court to support the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.
The country could send the legal team as early as sometime this April.
The Kremlin continues to deny such allegations that it has broken international law and committed war crimes in neighbouring Ukraine.