Crimes against humanity - The Kyiv Independent

Roman Shvartsman at YES conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2025.

Opinion

Hitler wanted to kill me because I'm Jewish. Putin wants to kill me because I'm Ukrainian

by Roman Shvartsman February 26, 2025

Editor’s Note: The following is a translated transcript of the address delivered by Roman Shvartsman, the chairman of the Odesa Association of Jews and a Holocaust survivor, at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) Special Gathering hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2025, marking

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OSCE invokes special mechanism to address arbitrary detentions of Ukrainian civilians by Russia

by Martin Fornusek March 1, 2024

The Moscow Mechanism allows for an expert mission to be dispatched and assist a country "in the resolution of a particular question or problem relating to the human dimension."

Opinion

Gyunduz Mamedov: Ukraine needs to strengthen effective prosecution of war crimes

by Gyunduz Mamedov February 16, 2022

France is now fully mobilized in the fight against impunity for the perpetrators of international crimes committed in Syria and throughout the world. Recent legislative changes strengthen France's cooperation with the United Nations-mandated International, Impartial & Independent Mechanism (IIIM), which aims to gather and analyze evidence of international crimes in Syria

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3:37 PM

'Not necessary,' 'bad timing' — Trump 'not happy' with Russia's deadly attack on Kyiv.

"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing," U.S. President Donald Trump said on the Truth Social platform.

3:21 PM

Ukraine's willingness to hold talks with Russia already 'a big compromise,' Zelensky says.

"I believe that we were attacked, our territories were occupied. Tens of thousands of people were killed, many children and adults were buried alive. And the fact that Ukraine is ready to sit down at the negotiating table after a full ceasefire with the terrorists who organized all this on our land is a big compromise," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

2:37 PM

Shoigu threatens Europe with nuclear weapons if Russia is faced with 'unfriendly actions'.

Sergei Shoigu also said any European future peacekeeping forces deployed to Ukraine would be seen by the Kremlin as a provocation.

2:34 PM

Zelensky gives South Africa's president list of 400 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

"I really hope President Ramaphosa will help us bring them back," Zelensky said in a joint press conference with Ramaphosa in Pretoria.

2:02 PM

Ukraine fails to reach deal on restructuring $2.6 billion debt, faces default.

This poses a risk that Kyiv might have to default on the payment of some $600 million ahead of the deadline in late May.

1:17 AM

(Updated: April 24, 2025 1:44 pm)

'Russian peace in all its glory' — Mass Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills 8, injures 77.

Authorities initially reported nine people killed, but the Prosecutor General's Office later said only eight fatalities had been confirmed.

1:19 PM

Russian ex-commander Popov jailed for 5 years, stripped of rank for fraud.

Ivan Popov, a disgraced ex-commander of Russia's 58th Army fighting in Ukraine, was sentenced by a Russian military court to five years imprisonment over a large-scale fraud, Interfax reported on April 24.

1:12 PM

UK bans export of video game controllers to Russia used to operate drones.

"Today’s measures will also cut Russia's war machine off from innovative British tech, world-leading software, and close loopholes exploited by (President Vladimir) Putin's cronies," the U.K. Foreign Ministry said.

12:44 PM

Exhumations of Volyn massacre Polish victims begin in western Ukraine.

This is the first such exhumation since 2017, when Ukraine imposed a moratorium in response to the destruction of Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) memorials in Poland.

12:16 PM

Europe rejects US push to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea, FT reports.

An unnamed senior European official told the FT that the Trump administration had already been informed that European capitals would not recognize Crimea as Russian.

11:17 AM

Ukraine brings back body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna tortured in Russian captivity, official says.

Ukrainian officials confirmed Roshchyna's death on Oct. 10, 2024, but said that the circumstances were still under investigation. Russia did not hand over her body for about five months.

11:11 AM

Syrian leader signals continued military ties with Russia, despite rejected Assad extradition.

Syrian authorities requested Russia to extradite ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, but were turned down, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with the New York Times published on April 23.

8:06 AM

(Updated: April 24, 2025 10:38 am)

Zelensky visits South Africa but cuts trip short after mass Russian strike.

"We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We will also certainly strengthen our cultural and educational ties," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

10:21 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 13, injure at least 97 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 64 out of the 145 Shahed-type and other drones, as well as 48 out of the 70 missiles, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

9:32 AM

Rubio, Witkoff reportedly clash over easing Russia sanctions; Trump admin denies.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for their fourth meeting on April 25, has reportedly promoted the idea. It has "not found much traction in the White House," and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opposed it, Politico reported.

9:13 AM

Ukraine, US to start working on free trade zone, Shmyhal says.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the parties also discussed "important political aspects" of the long-debated future minerals deal between Kyiv and Washington.

9:03 AM

Zelensky posts 2018 US Crimea Declaration amid Trump's policy shifts.

The post seems to refer to the U.S. reportedly proposing de jure recognition of Russian control over the southern Ukrainian peninsula, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

8:06 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 945,330 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,060 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:16 AM

Trump declines to say whether he wants Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"I just want to see the war end, I don’t care," Trump told reporters. "If they’re both happy, they both sign an agreement, I have no favorites. I don’t want to have any favorites. I want to have a deal done."

5:30 AM

Trump says he may meet Putin 'shortly' after May Middle East visit.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump's last in-person encounter with his Russian counterpart was during the 2018 Helsinki Summit during the U.S. president's first term.

3:29 AM

'US tells Russia crimes it commits are acceptable' — What recognition of Russia's occupation of Crimea would mean for Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars

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