News

The Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has started a criminal investigation against yet unidentified military men of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and persons from National Guard and Right Sector concerning shelling of the towns of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Donetsk, Mariupol and others self-declared the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as containing signs of a crime under part 1 of article 356 of the RF Penal Code (use of prohibited means and methods of warfare).

According to investigators, while shelling the said towns the military men of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, members of National Guard and Right Sector violated the Geneva Convention of 12.08.1949 “On protection of civilians in time of war” and with the purpose of killing civilians used weapons, artillery, aircrafts, including those with the UN symbols, armoured weapons and vehicles. As a result of the shelling there are casualties among the civil population. In addition, industrial, energy, communications and transport infrastructure facilities, buildings and structures of residential, social and cultural sectors, including hospitals, children care facilities and schools were partially or completely destroyed. Those actions against civil population forced some of the residents of the Republic of Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, some of whom are citizens of the Russian Federation, to flee their homes. Besides that, violating the said Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocol, on 18 May, Ukrainian militants took citizens of the Russian Federation – Life News journalists Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saychenko, not participating in the armed conflict, hostage and illegally held them until 24 May causing them physical and mental sufferings. In addition, Italian citizen Andrea Rocchelli and Russian human rights activist Andrey Mironov were killed on 25 May during the mortar shelling near the village of Andreevka, Slavyansk District of the Donetsk People’s Republic. On 26 May, at least 35 civilians were killed near Donetsk airport, when a truck carrying the wounded and protected by the Red Cross emblem was shelled. 

If politicians in Kiev or in Western countries prefer living in propagandistic virtual reality, in the fairytale about the Emperor’s new clothes, it’s their problem. But we here in Russia are not going to refuse from a sober view of things, including the objective reality of Ukraine’s collapse and its state’s inability to protect rights and freedoms of citizens.

Under all international laws those guilty of killing civilians and children must be held accountable. And if there is no state in the world capable of recognizing the obvious fact, that is, that Ukrainian state’s actions are criminal, then the Russia’s Investigative Committee in opening this criminal case can do that. This way, the Investigative Committee not only recognizes the fact of crimes committed against civil population, but starts collecting evidence proving guilt of each one involved in the crimes against peace and security of mankind.

The trial is unavoidable for each of them involved – starting with a rank-and-file member of National Guard and ending with those who give them orders to kill civilians.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                     V.I. Markin