Ukraine: apparent war crimes in Bucha must be investigated

Following reports of apparent war crimes committed by Russian military forces against civilians in the city of Bucha near Kyiv in Ukraine, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

“These reports from Bucha are showing a wider pattern of war crimes including extrajudicial executions and torture in other occupied areas of Ukraine.

 

“We fear the violence suffered by civilians in Bucha at the hands of Russian soldiers is not unique. These incidents should be investigated as war crimes.

 

“To date, Amnesty International has gathered evidence of civilians in Ukraine killed by indiscriminate attacks in Kharkiv and Sumy Oblast, documented an airstrike that killed civilians queueing for food in Chernihiv, and gathered evidence from civilians living under siege in Kharkiv, Izium and Mariupol.”

As Russia continues its war against Ukraine, Amnesty is documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Later this week, Amnesty will publish new testimony gathered during an on-the-ground investigation in a number of towns in the wider Kyiv region. 

 

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is itself a crime under humanitarian law.