The German- and French-brokered Minsk Protocol was designed to give the breakaway regions special status within the Ukrainian state. Russia attacked the neighboring state in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. According to Denisova, the Ukrainians were “ threatened with murder, beaten and humiliated” and deprived of water and medical assistance. On Monday, the Ukrainian Human Rights ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova took to Telegram to accuse the Russian “ occupiers” and “ racists” of torturing Ukrainian soldiers captured in Mariupol. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of multiple atrocities against both civilian populations and prisoners of war. “ We are a European army, and we do not mock our prisoners… I would like to remind all our military, civilian and defense forces once again that the abuse of prisoners is a war crime that has no amnesty under military law and has no statute of limitations,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Alexey Arestovich said in March, commenting on a video that seemed to show Russian POWs being tortured by members of Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian authorities had previously stressed that the abuse of prisoners is a war crime and would not be tolerated. READ MORE: Russia publishes data on foreign mercenaries in Ukraine “ There are always chances to determine those involved, because there are no crimes without traces,” Bastrykin underlined, adding that the Investigative Committee was coordinating its efforts with officials from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. The second incident involved two groups of Russian soldiers who were captured in the Nikolayev Region and were allegedly also subject “ to physical and psychological violence.” “ They tried to beat information out of them about the progress of the special military operation,” Bastrykin explained. He cited two examples of such incidents: first, when the Ukrainians allegedly “ systematically used physical violence” against several Russian servicemen whom they captured in Zaporozhye Region and “ illegally held” for ten days. “ Some of them also surrendered and were questioned by investigators,” Bastrykin added.Ĭommenting on the reports of alleged torture of Russian prisoners of war by the Ukrainians, Bastrykin said that “ a number of such crimes” are currently being investigated.

We know that they came from the UK, the US, Norway, Canada, Georgia and other countries,” Bastrykin said.Īs an example, he mentioned a Georgian national who is said to have created an armed formation called Georgian National Legion on Ukrainian territory, which included at least 24 of his compatriots as mercenaries. “ Based on the available data, criminal cases have been initiated against 75 mercenaries who are participating in hostilities on the side of Ukraine. READ MORE: Russia to investigate alleged SAS activities in Ukraine

Rus captured guys