The Department for investigating crimes connected with the use of prohibited means and ways of warfare of the Investigative Committee’s Head Office has established new instances of shelling settlements in Luhansk and Donetsk regions by the Ukrainian army which resulted in deaths of civilians.
According to investigators, on 14 and 24 January 2017, the Ukrainian military used artillery of at least 122mm caliber to bomb the towns of Stakhanov and Kirovsk in Luhansk region. 2 civilians were killed in the shelling. The Kirovsk central town hospital, which is basically the only medical institution serving the town and nearby settlements populated by thousands, was severely damaged.
It was also established that from 16 to 26 February, the military of the Ukraine’s Armed Forces and National Guard followed criminal orders of superior commanders and shelled civilian infrastructure in the towns of Yasinovataya, Dokuchayevsk and Novoazovsk district, Doentsk region. 3 civilians were wounded, more than 20 houses and other civilian buildings were destroyed or damaged, including the Donetsk filter plant providing drinking water to several settlements populated by thousands of people.
Investigations were opened into the use of prohibited ways and means of warfare under Part 1 of Article 356 of the RF Penal Code.
The investigators are taking all possible steps to identify persons involved in each act of shelling and to document evidence of mass violations of human rights and freedoms in southeastern Ukraine.
The Investigative Committee is looking into those cases guided by both international and Russian laws allowing prosecuting foreign citizens who have committed crimes outside our country in case they have not been punished for them.
The crimes committed by the Ukrainian army against civilians have no statute of limitations. Russian investigators are going to do their best to bring to justice those who executed the orders and those who gave them.
Acting Head of Media Relations S.L. Petrenko
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