MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) — Five Ukrainian servicemen have been detained in Russia on suspicion of war crimes, a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee said Friday.
The detained servicemen are suspected of using phosphorus bombs against the civilian population of eastern Ukraine and shelling Russian territory.
"In their testimony, the detainees admit taking part in hostilities and using various types of weapons. However, they deny using these weapons against civilians," spokesman Vladimir Markin said.
All the detained belonged to the 72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Those detained are: Commander of the First Battalion Ivan Voytenko, his deputy Major Vitaly Dubinyak, Tank Battalion Commander Alexander Polyakov, Executive Officer Alexander Orkhimenko and Squadron Commander Dmitry Ustilko.
The investigators say the brigade shelled the towns of Krasnopartizansk and Krasnodon in Luhansk Region between July 19 and August 3, using indiscriminate heavy offensive weapons under Voytenko's command. The attack left 10 civilians injured and destroyed about 20 homes and infrastructure facilities.
Other servicemen from the division confirmed the information.
Russian investigators are probing the detained on their involvement in phosphorus bomb attacks against civilians in Donetsk Region and the shelling of Russian territory, Markin said.
Russia has documented multiple cases of war crimes in Ukraine since the start of the conflict in mid-April, when Kiev launched a military crackdown on independence supporters in eastern Ukraine. Fighting between the government forces and militia fighters has not stopped for months, even during an official ceasefire.
The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 1,367 people, according to the United Nations.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned Kiev’s "war against own people" and urged an immediate stop to the punitive operation, advocating a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
