Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s railways, power stations
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova on Tuesday accused Russian forces of committing various crimes, including murder, torture and rape, in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin.
“Putin is the main war criminal of the 21st century,” Venediktova said during a news conference. “I remember every day how many Ukrainian kids were killed. I see it every day.”
Venediktova said Ukrainian authorities have collected information on allegations of the rape of women, men, children and an elderly woman. Some of the victims are still in Russian-occupied territory, while some have fled, she said. “Victims are not ready to speak,” she said, adding that they are distressed and still scared that the Russians will come back.
She didn’t disclose the number of alleged incidents, but said she anticipates a “huge number” of sexual violence cases emerging.
Venediktova said her team has identified and is beginning to prosecute one member of the Russian military accused of torturing at least 10 people in Irpin. Last week, prosecutors filed war crimes charges against 10 Russian service members accused of torturing and taking civilians hostage.
The Ukrainian prosecutor also claimed that Russia used weapons banned under the Geneva Conventions, including shells with arrow shrapnel and antipersonnel mines.
“Every day we will have more and more detail, more and more information,” she said, adding that investigators have worked hard to interview many victims and witnesses over the past two months.
