DISINFO: Ukraine war crimes tribunal will be illegitimate
SUMMARY
Any attempts to set up a tribunal on the Ukraine war will be illegitimate and the Kremlin will condemn them. Russian investigators are working intensely to record all the crimes of the Kyiv regime.
RESPONSE
The material and links may contain distressing/ graphic content.
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets denying any Russian responsibility for war crimes by Russian troops. There is enough well-documented evidence of Russia's direct involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity during its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.
Those committing war crimes must be held accountable. That is what HRVP Josep Borrell was speaking about in his press remarks at the Ministerial Council meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Polish city of Łódź on 1 December 2022.
Russian atrocities in Bucha and adjacent towns and villages in Kyiv Oblast were documented after these areas were liberated from Russian troops in early April. Dozens of civilians were found in a mass grave there, as well as killings, rape and other crimes against civilians were registered in in those areas.
There is also ample evidence of Russian involvement in mass killings and torture of civilians during the Russian occupation of the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum and surrounding places. Local residents told reporters about life under Russian occupation. Hundreds of dead bodies were found in Kharkiv Oblast, some with hands tied, which indicate the killing of prisoners.Bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were found among civilians.
Russian troops heavily shell and bomb residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages, churches and other civilian objects. Russian missiles struck several civilian objects in Vinnytsia on 14 July 2022, killing and wounding dozens of civilians. Russian forces hit a hotel, a shopping mall and several other civilian objects in Mykolaiv on 14 July 2022 as well. A residential area was pounded in Kryvyi Rih on 9 July 2022. Russian forces also targeted a shopping mall in Kremenchuk on 28 June 2022. They also plant mines in cities and use cluster and vacuum bombs.
Russia also regularly shells the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is creating a radioactive threat for Ukraine and the whole of Europe. EU High representative Borrell condemned Russia’s military activities there and labelled them as a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia’s disregard for international norms. IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi said he was "extremely concerned" by reports of shelling at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is Europe's largest. Since early October 2022, Russia has been regularly staging massive missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine cities, launching dozens of missiles at a time.
See more examples of Kremlin disinformation about Ukraine.