Ukraine Records Nearly 227,000 Russian War Crimes Since Full-Scale Invasion

Ukraine’s National Police has opened nearly 227,000 war-crimes proceedings since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, documenting a vast catalogue of crimes committed by Russian troops and their accomplices across the country. As of Oct. 2, investigators had opened 243,982 criminal proceedings linked to crimes committed on Ukrainian territory by Russian servicemen and their accomplices, according to the National Police. Of those, 226,766 are being investigated as war crimes under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The figures illustrate the scale of the legal and investigative burden Ukraine continues to face more than four years into Russia’s invasion, as authorities document killings, attacks on civilian infrastructure, forced deportations, sexual violence and other violations. Nearly a quarter-million criminal proceedings According to the latest National Police figures, Ukrainian investigators have opened: 226,766 proceedings involving war crimes; 9,412 proceedings over encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability; 4,781 proceedings involving collaboration; 452 proceedings involving treason. The latest tally is higher than the 243,435 criminal proceedings recorded by police on Sept. 26, including 226,221 war-crimes cases, showing that hundreds of new cases continue to be added within days. Russian war takes devastating toll on Ukrainian children The National Police update also highlights the continuing toll on Ukrainian children. As of Oct. 2, official data showed 749 children killed and 2,924 wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion. Another 2,365 children remained missing, while 20,651 had been recorded as deported to Russia. Ukraine has returned 2,651 children, while 59,462 have been located, according to the figures cited by police from the Children of War database. Other Topics of Interest Putin Ally Schröder Takes Russian Business Post After Kremlin Floated Him as Ukraine Mediator The former German chancellor joins Hyperglobus as Moscow again promotes Kremlin-friendly Western figures while pressuring European businesses. The figures remain incomplete because authorities cannot fully verify cases in areas of active fighting and Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation. Sexual violence investigations Ukrainian authorities have also opened 153 criminal proceedings involving sexual violence committed by Russian military personnel. Sexual violence has been among the categories of Russian crimes documented by Ukrainian investigators and international organizations throughout the war. Ukraine has repeatedly stressed that the scale of such crimes may be significantly greater than the number of formal cases, particularly because many victims remain in occupied territories or may be unable or unwilling to report abuse. International Legal Ramifications In late August, police reported 236,528 criminal proceedings, including 219,335 war crimes. By Oct. 2, the total had risen by more than 7,400 proceedings, while the number classified as war crimes had increased by more than 7,400 as well. The meticulously cataloged metrics compiled by the National Police are intended to serve a purpose far beyond domestic reporting. Every logged war crime, forced transfer of a minor, and act of systemic violence is being documented in compliance with international legal standards. This evidentiary database is being prepared to form the bedrock of prosecutions within both Ukrainian courts and future international tribunals to ensure accountability for both high-ranking Kremlin officials and frontline perpetrators. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.