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Probe launched in shelling of Donets civilian infrastructure by Ukrainian military

The Head Office of the Investigative Committee has opened an investigation in the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare under part 1 of Article 356 of the RF Criminal Code.

At about 10 AM local time on 5 December 2017, following orders of senior officials of the Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, the Ukraine Army and National Guard fired heavy artillery weapons at civilian infrastructure in Petrovsky District of Donetsk. A civilian was wounded in the shelling.

According to investigators the Ukrainian military servants violated the Minsk Protocol on ceasefire and its Memorandum, as well as the Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and its Protocol II.

The motive for that major crime was political and ideological hatred as the population of the southeastern Ukraine refuse to recognize the current authority as legitimate and want to create isolated administrative-territorial entities.

At present, investigative and search operations are underway to find out all the circumstances surrounding the crime and identify the officials involved.

 

Spokesperson for the Investigative Committee                                                                                       Svetlana Petrenko