US provides Ukraine with war crimes collection assistance
The new package contained 66 vehicles, 250 drones, nine 3D laser ground scanning devices, and a DNA laboratory, the Interior Ministry said.
Russian war crimes
Russian forces kill Ukrainian priest in occupied part of Kherson Oblast
The Ukrainian priest Stepan Podolchak was kidnapped from his home two days earlier by Russian forces, representatives from Kalanchak's military administration told the Suspilne media outlet.
How Russian troops killed 3 unarmed teenagers in Ukrainian village
WARNING: The story contains graphic descriptions. When the neighbor told her what happened to her brothers, Tetiana Zahatna's howl echoed across the village. The twins had stepped out of the house earlier. Then she heard the shooting. Though Russian forces never occupied the village of Mokhnatyn in Chernihiv Oblast, their
Inside a prison where Russia tortured Ukrainian POWs. Investigation by the Kyiv Independent
Among the Russian camps for Ukrainian prisoners of war, the most notorious one is Olenivka, in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast. This prison-turned-camp became infamous due to reports of abuse and torture inflicted upon its prisoners. Who runs this prison?
‘I’m afraid we’ll never find them:’ Russia holds thousands of Ukrainian civilians hostage
In the early days of the full-scale invasion as Russian troops were occupying large swaths of territory outside of Kyiv, one local village resident was relieved to see what he thought were Ukrainian troops. The resident, Ivan Drozd, shouted the common Ukrainian salute "Slava Ukraini!" (Glory to Ukraine!) to the
Olenivka POW camp, where Ukrainians were tortured, was likely supervised by a high-ranking official from Moscow
Kirill Popov, the first deputy head of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service's Moscow branch, is likely to have overseen the work of the Olenivka POW camp, located in the occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast.
Clooney Foundation for Justice brings alleged Russian crimes to German prosecutors
Over the past week, the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), a non-governmental organization founded by Amal and George Clooney, filed three cases with German federal prosecutors to investigate crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Submitted on Oct. 26, the cases rely on absolute universal jurisdiction in Germany, which allows
The writing is on the wall: Ukrainian archivists collect Russian graffiti as evidence of war crimes
“It is not considered a war crime if you had fun,” reads graffiti left by Russian soldiers in the backroom of a bar in the village of Velyka Komyshuvakha, located in the Izium district of Kharkiv Oblast. Before being liberated, the area was occupied by Russian forces for six months
Abducting the future: How Ukrainian parents fight to rescue their children from Russia
One thought helped Yevhen Mezhevyi overcome the ordeal of Russian captivity – the thought of his three young children. Single father Mezhevyi, 40, was captured by Russian troops at a checkpoint when he and his children were fleeing their war-torn hometown of Mariupol last spring. For 45 days, Mezhevyi was kept
BULLET HOLES | An investigation into Russia’s systemic killings of Ukrainian children
The Kyiv Independent’s findings point to the systemic and deliberate nature of child murders by the Russian military in Ukraine. Our in-depth investigation allowed us to identify those responsible for the killing of a child.
Deliberate murders of Ukrainian children by Russian soldiers reveal culture of impunity
Editor's Note: The story is based on the documentary “Bullet Holes,” published by the Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigations Unit. On a cold March morning, the Mahdyk family bundled themselves into their minivan. Their village near Kyiv was occupied, and they couldn’t bear staying there any longer. The family
Russia is committing ecocide in Ukraine, here’s how
Russian war crimes extend beyond human suffering. The environmental impact of this war might take Ukraine decades to recover. Officials have already labeled this destruction of nature as "ecocide." So, what exactly is ecocide? Find out in our explainer.
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 20 – Tragedy of civilian life in Donbas
Episode #20 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to civilian life in Donbas amidst daily Russian attacks.
'That's it, it's death, guys.' What we know about Russia's killing of 2 Ukrainian teenagers in occupied Berdiansk
On the evening of June 24, 16-year-olds Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov went for a walk in their hometown of Berdiansk, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The two got some street food, saw some friends, and discussed how they would celebrate Khanhanov's 17th birthday the next
UPROOTED | An investigation into Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children
The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigation Unit established the names of Russian-controlled officials who took part in the abduction and followed the paths of families who risked their lives to bring their children back.
Ukraine's fight to bring Russian leadership to justice puts legal systems to ultimate test
In pursuit of justice for Russia's many war crimes, Ukraine is actively seeking the establishment of an international tribunal. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already launched investigations into alleged Russian war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Ukraine. However, the ICC lacks jurisdiction to prosecute a crime of
Ukrainians under occupation face deportation, loss of property after Putin's new order
Editor's Note: The names of the people from the Russian-occupied territories interviewed by the Kyiv Independent for this story have been changed to protect their identity, as they have shared sensitive information that could place them in danger. As Russia largely exhausted its military potential on the battlefield, the Kremlin
EU top justice official: We aren't waiting for war's end to prosecute Russian crimes
As Russia's war against Ukraine rages on, the European Union's top justice official says the EU and its partners want to bring all perpetrators of international crimes to justice. "Not only war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, but also the crime of aggression," European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders
'It was hell.' Mother speaks of rescuing her child from Russian captivity
On Oct. 8, Tetiana Bodak was busy organizing a funeral for her mother, who was killed by a Russian attack in then-occupied Kherson Oblast, when she got an unexpected and very emotional phone call from her son. "Mom, I'm in Oleshky (a Russian-occupied settlement in Kherson Oblast). On the way
'They are destroying us.' People plea to escape flooded Russian-occupied areas
Editor’s note: For this story, we spoke to people living or having family in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. For their safety, they are identified by first name only. After destroying the Nova Kakhovka dam and stranding thousands of Ukrainians in the catastrophic flood zone, Russians prevented people in
Ministry: 10,000 hectares of arable land expected to be flooded in Kherson Oblast
Ten thousand hectares of arable land on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast are expected to be flooded after the disaster at the Kakhovka dam on June 6, the Agriculture Ministry reported on June 7.
What are the consequences of the Kakhovka dam’s demolition?
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam can lead to serious humanitarian, ecological, economic, military, and legal consequences. The demolition was carried out by Russian forces in southern Ukraine in the early hours of June 6. And it’s among the most dramatic violations of the Geneva Conventions in recent decades.
Russian forces destroy Kakhovka dam, triggering humanitarian disaster
The dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant across the Dnipro River, occupied by Russian forces, was destroyed on the morning of June 6, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reported early in the morning that Russian forces blew up the dam.
Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Dnipro kills 2 as Zelensky says Ukraine doing best to procure air defense
Key developments on May 26: * Governor: Russian missile strike on Dnipro clinic kills 2, injures 31 * Kyiv braces 13th air assault since the beginning of May; no casualties reported * Zelensky says Ukraine doing best to procure air defense following the latest Dnipro missile strike * Local authorities: 128 children evacuated from
Ukraine war latest: Zelensky in The Hague calls for special tribunal; Drone shot down over Kyiv
Key developments on May 4: * Zelensky: We all want to see Putin in The Hague * Zelensky meets Dutch PM and King of the Netherlands, addresses Dutch Parliament * At least one drone shot down over Kyiv; debris causes fire Russian President Vladimir Putin must be held accountable for his country's brutal
One year on, Kherson activist kidnapped by Russian troops remains in captivity
On the morning of May 13, Tetiana Horobtsova was busy in the kitchen at her home in then-occupied Kherson when she heard her daughter saying, "Mom, they’ve come for me." She left the kitchen to find her daughter – 37-year-old IT specialist Iryna Horobtsova – standing on the balcony, looking pale
Ukraine war latest: Russian strike on Uman kills 23, including 4 children; rescue operation continues
Key developments on April 28: * Russian missile strike on apartment block in Uman kills at least 23 people * Defense minister: Preparations for Ukraine counteroffensive at final stage * Slovak, Czech presidents make joint visit to Ukraine * Denmark delivers Caesar howitzers to Ukraine A Russian mass missile attack against Ukraine killed 25
Ukraine war latest: Another Russian soldier admits committing war crimes, intercepted call alleges
Key developments on April 27: * Court sentences Russian soldier to life in prison for killing 1, injuring 3 Ukrainians * Russian serviceman admits killing POWs after interrogations, intercepted call allege * Mayor: Collaborator killed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast * US commander confident in success of Ukraine's counteroffensive Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) published an intercepted
How a celebrated Ukrainian writer turned into a war crimes researcher
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has galvanized Ukrainians into action, compelling them to figure out how they can contribute to their country’s victory. Oftentimes, it has called for a radical departure from the known comforts of their daily lives. That’s exactly what happened to Ukrainian writer Victoria
Explainer: What we know about Russia's deportation of Ukrainian children
In March, the International Criminal Court made a historic ruling: It issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. The statement by ICC says that Putin is "allegedly responsible" for the unlawful deportation and transfer
Most popular
Editors' Picks
Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania's far-right still aim to win
Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer — and it worked
‘We will adapt’ — Ukraine’s soldiers say after US intel cut
