Russia charges Ukraine's officials over ATO. Former Prime Minister reacts

Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk has responded to Russia's accusations. 

According to Yatsenyuk, this is not the first criminal case brought against him in Russia.

"The same report states that a total of 47 foreigners who took part in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine were charged in absentia. And 14 states that supplied weapons to Ukraine have been 'identified'. That is why it is so unclear to me whether I am being prosecuted as a mercenary foreigner, an arms supplier, or just a lone extremist," the former Prime Minister wrote. 

He emphasized that he considers the charges to be a recognition of his work in defense of Ukraine.

"If such a satrapy as Russia brings charges against me, it means that I do not live and work in vain," Yatsenyuk added. 

The accusations against Yatsenyuk, Pashynskyi and members of the National Security and Defense Council are mentioned in a statement by the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin.

The Russian Federation claims that Arseniy Yatsenyuk, acting head of the presidential administration Serhiy Pashynskyi and acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia, who were members of the National Security and Defense Council and participated in the decision to conduct the anti-terrorist operation, are allegedly involved in "crimes in Donbas."

Yatsenyuk and other members of the National Security and Defense Council are accused in Russia of allegedly injuring and killing 1,382 people, including 44 children, and destroying more than 345 civilian objects in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2016.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation notes that it is taking measures to find and arrest former Ukrainian officials.

• On October 6, Russia indicted former NSDC Secretary Andriy Parubiy and former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Oleh Makhnitskyi in absentia over the declaration of the ATO.