Iryna Venediktova also told German television that Ukrainian investigators had identified “more than 8,000 cases” of suspected war crimes from the Russian invasion, which included charges of “killing civilians, bombing political infrastructure, torturing” and “sexual crimes”. The comments came as the International Criminal Court (ICC) is stepping up its investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine since the start of the war. The Dutch government will send a team of “several dozen” medical examiners to Ukraine “very soon” on behalf of the ICC to gather evidence of human rights violations, the ANP news agency reported on Thursday. The withdrawal of Russian forces from Kyiv in early April left frightening evidence of atrocities scattered in the suburbs and cities of the region, where dozens of bodies in civilian clothes were found in the streets or buried in shallow graves. In a Facebook post Thursday, Venediktova identified 10 soldiers – two sergeants, four deans and four soldiers – who she said “participated in the torture of peaceful people” during the violent occupation of Bucha, a small town of 18.5 miles. North. west of Kiev. Venediktova said the troops were part of the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade, a unit based in the Khabarovsk Krai on the Pacific coast in Russia’s Far East. “During the occupation of Bouha, they took hostage unarmed civilians, killed them out of hunger and thirst and kept them on their knees with their hands tied and their eyes glued. [The hostages] they were mocked and beaten with fists and rifle butts. They were beaten for information about his position [Ukrainian] “armed forces; and some were tortured for no reason,” he wrote. Venediktova appealed to the public to help gather evidence, and said Ukrainian prosecutors and police were now investigating whether any of the men were also involved in homicides. Ukraine, along with some Western countries and human rights groups, has accused Russian forces of killing civilians in Bucha. Stanislav Kozynchuk, deputy head of the Kyiv region prosecutor’s office, said investigators were working with victims to identify perpetrators of human rights abuses. “Our suspects are military personnel from the Russian Federation,” he said. “We understand who was there, what happened and now we are looking at these military units that were involved in the killings.” Some of the soldiers involved have already been redeployed to fight in eastern Ukraine, he said. In a recent report, the Human Rights Watch reported that “Russian forces committed a number of apparent war crimes during their occupation” of the city, adding that investigators “found extensive evidence of summary executions, other extrajudicial killings, forced killings.” disappearances and torture. all of which would constitute war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. “ The Guardian reports that dozens of civilians killed during the Russian occupation of Bukha were killed by tiny metal arrows fired from shells fired by Russian artillery. Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry identified the Russian 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade as the unit that had occupied Bucha, announcing the names, ranks and passport details of all soldiers. Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged human rights abuses, while Russian state television broadcast reports claiming that the images of the dead civilians in Bucha were directed or the result of crimes committed by Ukrainian forces. During a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the Kremlin on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “Russian forces had nothing to do with Bukha.” “We know who did it. “We know who prepared this challenge. We know who they are,” Putin said, without elaborating. Earlier this month, Putin awarded the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade the honorary title of “guard” and praised the unit for its “great heroism and courage.” “This high distinction recognizes your special strengths, your great heroism and your courage in defending your homeland and in defending Russia’s sovereignty and national interests,” Putin said in a statement.
