‘There must be no impunity for atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine’ – EU helps to document war crimes by Russian troops

With help of legal experts from one of its projects, the EU Delegation to Ukraine has started a series of publications highlighting international crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine.

The first story is about Oleksandr’s family who moved from Donetsk to Bucha in 2014. The family started a new life, bought а house, had a second son.

“After the full-scale Russian invasion, the family hid in the basement for a week and then decided to evacuate. On the way, their car was shot by Russians. Oleksandr’s wife Marharyta and his two sons Matvii and Klym (9 and 4 years) died before his eyes. He survived, but his leg was amputated,” the publication says.

The second story recalls another international crime committed by the Russian Army: on 23 April it launched several rocket attacks on Odesa. One of the targets was a 16-storey residential building. Nearby houses and cars were also damaged.

Following massive destructions and fires, eight peaceful residents were killed. Another 18 people were injured.

“Behind these figures are innocent lives and the inconsolable grief of their loved ones. A young couple was expecting a child. A father who went to the store and, in a moment, lost everything: his wife, their three-month-old child, his mother-in-law. A man burned alive in a car,” the publication says of this strike on the civilian population.

“Such actions are blatant violations of international humanitarian law by Russia. Article 51 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 expressly prohibits attacks against civilians,” the experts say “There must be no impunity for war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. The EU supports efforts in this regard, helping to document and investigate violations.”

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