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A Criminal Case Has Been Initiated Over the Shelling of the City of Shakhtersk in the Donetsk People’s Republic by the Ukrainian Military

The military investigating authorities of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation have initiated a criminal case against servicemen of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the grounds of a crime under Part 1, Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare).

It has been established that at about 20:00 on April 20 this year, the Ukrainian military – contrary to the requirements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10.12.1948, the Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land (The Hague, 18.10.1907), as well as the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War as of 12.08.1949 and the protocol to it, which establishes the right of every person to life, liberty and personal integrity and prohibits attacking undefended cities and villages, as well as infringing on the life and physical integrity of persons who do not directly take part in hostilities – fired at residential buildings and public areas in the city of Shakhtersk using the Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

These illegal actions injured five civilians of varying severity, including a young child who died on the spot, as well as destroyed buildings and facilities.

The military investigators are taking measures aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the incident, as well as identifying the persons involved in the commission of this crime.