Addressing a summit in Bucha, President Zelenskiy urged the international community to hold Russia accountable for over 183,000 documented war crimes committed since the 2022 invasion. This figure, compiled by Ukraine, excludes crimes in currently occupied territories. Zelenskiy stressed the need for effective international law and sanctions to prevent further atrocities and ensure justice. Investigations are underway domestically and internationally, including by the International Criminal Court, though challenges remain, such as the lack of U.S. and Russian recognition of the court’s jurisdiction.
Read More
A U.N. investigation documented both Ukrainian and Russian forces committing executions, analyzing visual evidence and witness testimonies. These incidents, occurring during Russian offensives, were contextualized by public statements from Russian officials explicitly advocating for the inhumane treatment and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war. The U.N. mission highlighted the potential for such statements, coupled with amnesty laws, to incite unlawful actions. Both the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office and Ombudsman have also reported increased instances of prisoner executions.
Read More
In response to the execution of two Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers from the 40th Arctic Brigade, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces conducted a targeted operation. The operation resulted in the deaths of three Russian soldiers and the capture of three others, who have reportedly confessed to the killings under orders from their commander. These actions followed numerous documented violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russian forces, including the reported execution of at least 124 Ukrainian POWs. The captured soldiers’ testimonies and the recovered bodies of the Ukrainian soldiers are now being used as evidence of these war crimes.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker