MOSCOW, August 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Investigative Committee has proof that prohibited weapons were used against civilians in eastern Ukraine, committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said Wednesday.
“The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has gained incontestable evidence during investigations into a criminal case that Ukraine used banned means and methods of warfare in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” Markin said.
Markin said that the materials could be handed over to international courts for further review.
“The material on this criminal case may be turned over to the appropriate international courts as we had earlier while investigating crimes by Georgian troops [in 2008] against civilians in South Ossetia,” Markin said.
The eastern Ukraine independence supporters have repeatedly accused Kiev-forces of using phosphorous bombs, which are banned by the Geneva Conventions. Phosphorous poisoning can cause serious illnesses and even lead to death.
In late July, Russia’s Defense Ministry said that it is aware of the following cases of phosphorous bombs being used by the Ukrainian Army: the shelling of the city of Slaviansk on June 12; phosphorous bombs being dropped by the Ukrainian Air Force on Slaviansk and Kramatorsk on June 21; the shelling of Semenivka using phosphorous and cluster bombs on June 24; the shelling of Semenivka on June 29; the shelling of Lisichansk on July 7; and phosphorous bombs dropped by Ukraine’s Air Force on Donetsk on July 23.
Moscow officials said they may submit an inquest to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the possible use of chemical weapons in eastern Ukraine.
