Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin has accused Russia of “systematically” committing atrocities in Ukraine. “These actions are not accidental or spontaneous, they are part of a widespread and systematic attack by the Kremlin on the civilian population of Ukraine,” Kostin told the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives in Washington today.
“This policy of torture is part of Moscow’s criminal plan to subdue the Ukrainians.” Russia is flagrantly violating the basic principles of international law.
US politician speaks of genocide
According to Kostin, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are investigating around 80,000 cases of alleged Russian war crimes in the country. House Committee Chairman Republican Michael McCaul called the Russian atrocities genocide.
“These are more than war crimes. These are more than crimes against humanity. What we are witnessing in Ukraine is genocide,” he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that it is Russia’s intention to systematically wipe out Ukraine’s existence. “These are monsters and they need to be brought to justice,” McCaul said.
Two witnesses who accuse Russia of serious human rights abuses in Ukraine also testified before the committee. One woman reported that she was taken to a torture chamber by the Russian military and held for several days. She was forced to dig her own grave. Another woman reported that Moscow is systematically kidnapping children to Russia. Kostin reported about 20,000 children who had been kidnapped. The order to do so comes directly from Kremlin boss Putin, he said.
