News

The Main Investigative Department of the IC of Russia continues to document Ukrainian nationalists' crimes against the civilian population of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. Following another massive shelling, the investigators initiated another two criminal cases on a possible crime under Part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (ill-treatment of civilians, use of means and methods prohibited by an international treaty of the Russian Federation in an armed conflict).

According to the investigators, in the period from March 30 to March 31, servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other Ukrainian military formations, while staying on the territory under their control, carried out deliberately criminal orders of higher commanders and officials of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with the aim of killing in a generally dangerous way and causing serious bodily harm to an unlimited number of civilians living in the Donetsk People's Republic for reasons of political and ideological hatred and enmity related to the withdrawal of the DPR from Ukraine: they mounted massive precision artillery and mortar attacks using highly destructive heavy weapons against civilian infrastructure facilities in the cities of Donetsk and Mariupol, as well as settlements of Sartana, Kalmiussky District, and Pavlovka, Maryinsky District, of the Donetsk People's Republic. Acting intentionally, the Ukrainian troops again violated the provisions of the Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Geneva, 12.08.1949) and Additional Protocol II thereto.

As a result of their criminal actions, 15 civilians were killed and 68 citizens were injured, including five minors.

During the same period and under similar circumstances, the territories of the Lugansk People's Republic were shelled: the settlements of Pervomaisk and Zolotoye-5. As a result, civil infrastructure facilities were damaged.

The Investigative Committee of Russia is identifying Ukrainian nationalist officials involved in these crimes against the peace and security of mankind.