Ukraine War: Detectives near Kharkiv investigate alleged Russian war crimes against civilians | World News
Early in the invasion, the 59th Russian tank regiment dug east of Kharkiv.
Near the high ground trail, they looked down into the village valley.
From that, Ukrainians said that the tank’s guns hit the vehicles and houses below.
A later calculation when Ukrainian forces completely annihilated Russian tanks and armored vehicles.
Sky News has joined Ukrainian and Lithuanian investigators looking for evidence of war crimes.
Ukrainian army ‘exploded Russian armored train’ – live updates
According to the law, any willful attack on civilians without military justification is a war crime.
On the same day in Kyiv, Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin became First Russian to be convicted of war crimes after pleading guilty to shooting an unarmed 62-year-old man in the head. Ukraine hopes he is the first of many.
On the hillside, prosecutors crawled through blown foxholes and searched strewn Russian belongings.
They found useful documents and other evidence that we were told.
Ukrainian military prosecutor Artem Zaskalkin told Sky News that the Russians shelled civilian houses in the villages below.
Lithuanian investigators are also present
He said they also ambushed trucks and vans trying to bring food and supplies to the villagers during the occupation.
You can punish them even though they may have escaped to Russia or east, they were asked.
We will try,” he said.
Ukraine is making great efforts in gathering evidence of war crimes.
We watched the teams as they combed through the wreckage of burned Russian vehicles and abandoned camps.
The Russians seem to have rushed to flee.
Underwear, tank commander hats and uniforms were scattered among empty explosives and broken shells.
Ukraine is building the case against as many Russians as possible. Social media and online technology are helping.
Read more:
The devastated village shows the aftermath of the battle of Kharkiv
Russian gymnasts banned from wearing the pro-war Z logo
The Ukrainians are collecting the names of units and soldiers and building a database of evidence against them.
The accused Russians could face arrest if they leave the country after charges have been filed against them.
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Crucial to that effort is the diligent work Sky News has witnessed in the hills east of Kharkiv.
More and more sites like this are becoming war crime scenes as Ukraine continues to gather evidence.
