The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation continues to collect and analyze data on violations and crimes against civilians committed by representatives of Ukrainian security agencies in Donbass.

In particular, the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia is verifying information that 37 Russian citizens were captured and held captive in the village of Staromaryevka in Donbass by Ukrainian servicemen after massive artillery shelling, and that Russian citizens had their passports confiscated and other violent acts took place.

For several years of the conflict in Donbas, Ukrainian servicemen have been systematically violating international law, in particular the provisions of the Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and Additional Protocol II thereto. This situation may involve a violation of the Convention's provisions prohibiting any coercive measures of a physical or moral nature, as well as restrictions on the free movement of civilians.

Upon confirmation of the data about the crimes committed against the residents of Staromaryevka, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia instructed the Main Investigative Department to immediately initiate criminal proceedings based on the results of the procedural check under Article 356 of the Criminal Code (cruel treatment of civilians) and take measures to identify specific individuals involved in this and organize their search in order to bring them to trial later.

Official spokesperson for the Investigative Committee of Russia S. Petrenko