News

The Department for investigation of crimes connected with the use of prohibited means and ways of warfare of the Investigative Committee’s Head Office continues looking into crimes committed by Ukrainian military men.

Following new shelling of civilians in Donbass from 3 and 10 March 2017, another criminal investigation has been opened in the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare under part 1 of Article 356 of the RF Penal Code. According to investigators, military men of the Ukraine’s Armed Forces and National Guard followed criminal orders of the commanders and fired heavy artillery weapons (at least 122mm) at civilian infrastructure which is not military targets located in Donetsk region. The shelling destroyed and damaged more than 50 houses and other buildings in the towns of Donetsk, Dokuchayevsk, Gorlovka and in nearby settlements.

In addition, investigators are looking into wrongdoings of the individuals already under investigation. As was reported earlier there is an ongoing investigation against commander of the 53^rd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Army Colonel Alexander Gruzevich. By now the investigators have managed to find some additions counts of his crimes and to identify yet another of his accomplices – commander of the 43^rd separate motorized infantry battalion of the 53^rd separate mechanized brigade Sergei Matseiko inferior to Gruzevich. According to the investigators, from April to July 2016, the said persons and other Ukrainian military followed orders and shelled civilian infrastructure in the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk destroying houses and other civilian buildings in the town of Gorlovka.

At present, the Investigative Committee continues establishing other counts of crimes committed by Ukrainian military men against civilian population in Donbass. All the facts are being documented and filed with the case over the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare which by now has more than 5,400 volumes.

Acting Head of Media Relations                                                                                                                  S.L. Petrenko