Russia commits 133,000 war crimes under Rome Statute in Ukraine - Prosecutor General’s Office

Yurii Belousov, Head of the War Crimes Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, announced this during the event 'Olenivka - A Place of Russian War Crime,' reports Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko.

He explained what the Prosecutor General's Office, together with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, is doing to investigate war crimes. According to him, they aim to demonstrate to the world that Ukrainians seek to join the European Union, so their standards of justice cannot be based on those of Russia.

Belousov reminded that cases against Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia are being massively fabricated, with prosecutions based on entirely false grounds and resulting in unjustly severe sentences.

As of this morning, since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russian forces have committed 133,000 war crimes throughout Ukraine, the head of the war department at the Prosecutor General's Office emphasized. According to him, these crimes fall under the full range of offenses outlined in the Rome Statute. This includes deportation of children, murder, sexual violence, ill-treatment, killing of prisoners of war, looting of property, and crimes against Ukraine's cultural heritage, among others.

Belousov stated that currently, war crimes in Ukraine are being investigated by the Office of the Prosecutor General in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police. Specialized units have been established to collect evidence and hold those responsible accountable.

As for now, 635 members of the Russian military have been notified of suspicion, with 457 cases currently pending in Ukrainian courts and 121 convictions already handed down. Unfortunately, most of these verdicts were passed in absentia. According to Belousov, only 17 war criminals are currently in the custody of Ukrainian law enforcement.

"But we believe that these efforts are not in vain. The primary goal is to secure a verdict, prove to the world that the individual has committed a crime, and then track their assets globally. As you know, war criminals from World War II are still being sought after all these years. We hope and believe that the criminals, including Putin and his associates, will eventually be brought to justice. Our task, as law enforcement, is to ensure that evidence is properly collected by the time this occurs. We are also working with the International Criminal Court," he emphasized.

As of today, arrest warrants have been issued for six people: the Russian president, the so-called Commissioner for Children's Rights (who is involved in crimes against Ukrainian children), four commanders from the Russian Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, and two generals responsible for launching missile strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

“We are making progress. This year and next, the International Criminal Court's priorities, in addition to addressing the deportation of our children and attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, include investigating torture in detention facilities. The International Criminal Court views the conditions in detention centers in occupied Ukrainian territories and Russia as evidence of a systemic policy by the Russians. This is a critical issue for us as well. We are working to demonstrate to the world that Russian forces are systematically torturing our civilians and military personnel. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader system of repression, targeting individuals with active resistance, detaining them, and subjecting them to torture,” emphasized the head of the war crimes department at the Prosecutor General's Office.

Belousov explained why the Azov Regiment became a primary target for Russia: “The Azov Regiment is widely recognized, both in Ukraine and globally, for its strong stance and belief that Ukrainians are distinct from Russians. This belief incites hostility from Russia. What happened in Olenivka reflects the deep-seated hatred Russia holds for Ukraine. We view this crime, along with others in Bucha, Izium, Mariupol, and other cities, as part of a broader campaign of genocide. We hope to prove that the Russians are not merely seeking to seize our territory or commit isolated acts of violence, but are intent on eradicating us as a nation. They want Ukrainians to remain, but for the nation itself to disappear. This is why they are targeting our culture, language, and the most active representatives of our nation.”

The Prosecutor General's Office representative emphasized the horror and deliberate nature of the crime that occurred in Olenivka.

“No one, either in Ukraine or abroad, doubts that this crime was committed by Russia, or that it was done intentionally. The only question is the method by which it was carried out,” Belousov said.

He provided information within the limits of what could be disclosed publicly. Law enforcement officers have thoroughly examined all investigations conducted, including those by the UN commission, as well as those by various non-governmental partners and international organizations. Several theories are under consideration.

One of the leading theories is that a thermobaric shell was used, Belousov said. In light of the evidence, all the bodies of the soldiers that were returned have been examined. International partners were involved, and specialized equipment was used to analyze each body to determine the exact cause of the injuries.

”This is indeed consistent with the effects of ultra-high temperatures, and the theory that a thermobaric shell was used is the most likely one. The questions we are currently addressing are related to how the explosion was carried out,” said Yurii Belousov. He added that over 20 soldiers directly present in the barracks, 30 prisoners of war held in Olenivka in other barracks, and 10 prisoners of war who were later involved in providing medical care have been interrogated.

“There are various theories about what caused the explosion and the specific type of attack used. Despite the two years that have passed, we still cannot identify those who directly perpetrated these crimes,” stated the head of the war crimes department at the Prosecutor General's Office.

However, one indication of the involvement of the highest levels of the Russian military leadership is that Russia has not conducted an independent investigation, Belousov noted. For the International Criminal Court, this lack of an independent investigation suggests that these crimes are either covered up or supported by the highest military and political leadership, he added.

He emphasizes that, in addition to the direct crime, another crime occurred that led to the deaths of 9 soldiers in the barracks. After the explosion, those soldiers who were seriously injured did not receive medical care for several hours.

“Not only did they not receive medical care, but this care was deliberately withheld. The head of the institution, the deputy head, and other officials present took all measures to prevent medical assistance from being provided. As a result, 9 soldiers died from blood loss because they did not receive proper medical care. The cynicism of the situation is that, according to the soldiers who were there, ambulances arrived and were capable of providing assistance but were not allowed to enter the area. The most tragic case was that of one soldier who was already in an ambulance but was removed on the orders of the institution's management and subsequently died from blood loss,” Belousov said.

According to him, last week the head of the institution and his deputy were suspected of this crime, though in absentia. The Security Service of Ukraine managed to piece together the full picture from the testimonies of released soldiers. Fortunately, military medics among the captives were able to assess the situation and the state of medical care on the spot. The head of the institution and the deputy are now suspected of murder.

The Prosecutor General's Office has classified the crime as murder, deliberate failure to provide medical care, and obstruction of its provision, Belousov emphasized.

"The management of this institution are merely puppets. There were employees of the Federal Security Service and representatives of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation on the premises. These individuals, who oversee all detention facilities in both Russian-controlled territories and in Russia, are being identified. We will gather the necessary evidence to hold accountable those directly implementing this policy of genocide against Ukraine. We are committed to pursuing justice, no matter how long it takes," emphasized the head of the war crimes department of the Prosecutor General's Office.

He assured that the Prosecutor General's Office, the Security Service, and the National Police are doing everything possible to identify each of the Russian criminals. He emphasized that law enforcement officials remain focused on the military and the victims, understanding the need for close communication with those affected.

For this purpose, a special center has been established within the Prosecutor General's Office, which will have 10 regional branches to facilitate communication with victims, Belousov said. The center's mission extends beyond communication to include providing psychological, social, and legal assistance. A similar center is already operational in Kyiv.

“There is an International Criminal Court mission in Ukraine. For the first time in history, the ICC has its largest mission outside The Hague in Kyiv. However, the ICC's primary focus is to hold the highest levels of leadership accountable - those who initiated this war, and those who support and direct the armed forces into Ukrainian territories. We are collaborating with the ICC and coordinating investigations, but we anticipate that more than 99% of war criminals will be prosecuted in our national courts. This case is part of a larger effort, addressing all detention sites used by Russia, both in Ukraine and abroad, where our military and civilians are detained and tortured. The ICC will assist as much as possible, but we believe our national system is also capable of bringing these individuals to justice, even if it takes time,” summarized Yurii Belousov, Head of the War Crimes Department of the Prosecutor General's Office.