About three months after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the first trial of a Russian soldier for war crimes began in Kyiv, with Human Rights Watch saying it has documented other instances of what it called “clear war crimes.” Russian troops in two regions of Ukraine The accused soldier, aged 21, pleaded guilty at the start of the trial, which was broadcast live.
A Siberian soldier has been charged with the murder of a 62-year-old civilian in the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine.
The soldier faces life imprisonment if found guilty. Kyiv accused the Russian army of committing large-scale war crimes after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine. These accusations are supported by international human rights organizations.
Footage of the execution of civilians in the cities of Bucha, Erbin, Gostomel and Borodyanka near Kyiv drew international condemnation when it was released on 1 April. Russia denies committing any war crimes in Ukraine and accuses Ukraine of mistreating Russian prisoners of war. in Kyiv.
In this regard, Human Rights Watch said today that it has documented other cases of what it called “clear war crimes” committed by Russian forces in two regions of Ukraine.
The report clarifies that Russian forces, which took control of many parts of the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions in late February and throughout March, executed civilians without trial, used torture and other gross violations.
The report mentions that Human Rights Watch said it documented 22 apparent executions in sham trials, nine extrajudicial executions, six cases of possible enforced disappearance, and seven cases of torture.
It was reported that 21 civilians told the organization that they had been unlawfully detained in inhuman and degrading conditions. Human Rights Watch called for “an impartial investigation into alleged violations and appropriate prosecution.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and the Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on the Human Rights Watch report. Russia denies attacks on civilians or involvement in war crimes and accuses Ukraine of committing atrocities to discredit its forces.
Asked about Akbar’s accusations of war crimes against Russian forces in Ukraine, Peskov told Reuters: “We find it impossible and unacceptable to arbitrarily make such accusations.”
“Many of the cases that Ukraine is talking about are clearly fabricated, and the most egregious of them are falsified, which our experts have convincingly proven,” he added.
