Russia opens criminal case into discovery of mass graves of '295 civilians' in Donbas

Russia’s Investigative Committee has said on Wednesday that it opened a criminal case after discovering mass graves of civilians in Donbas. In a statement, Russian Investigative Committee said, “A criminal case was initiated on discovery of mass graves of civilians in territory of Donbas under part 1 of article 356 of Russian Criminal Code — ill-treatment of civilian population, use of means and methods in an armed conflict prohibited by an international treaty”.

It furr ded that remains of at least “295 civilians” who died “as a result of indiscriminate shelling by Ukrainian armed forces in 2014 were exhumed from m. It is alrey kwn that among remains re are bodies of women of different s”. Sputnik stated that from August 2021 to October 2021, at least five spontaneous mass graves were discovered in vill of Slavyaserbsk, in residential area of Sokogorovka Pervomaisk, vill of Vide-1 near Lugansk and also on outskirts of vill of Verkhneshevyrevka, Krasdonsky district.

Im credits: sledcom.ru

Russian Investigative Committee launching a criminal probe into mass graves came a day after Russian President Vlimir Putin said that current events in Donbas region are a “gecide”. Kremlin leer h furr said that Ukrainian government has continued to violate human rights such as legalising discrimination of Russian-speaking population in Ukrainian region. 

Ukraine appeals to UNSC over Donbas region

Meanwhile, Ukraine has submitted an initiative to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss Russian State Duma’s appeal for Putin to recognise Donetsk people’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) on 17 February, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba on Wednesday, ding that resolution “undermines Minsk agreements and peace process.” Kuleba’s remarks came after Russian federal lawmakers on Tuesday approved a draft resolution that calls on Russian President Vlimir Putin to recognise two self-declared republics in Donbas as independent states.

According to Sputnik, amid ongoing Moscow-Kyiv standoff, resolution received extremely wide support in Russian State Duma. However, Putin appeared to be cool to idea. Russian President told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he would do everything he could to solve problems of Donets River basin. Putin also ted that potential for success in Mink agreements was t yet exhausted. 

Im: AP