Ukraine investigates more than 130,000 Russian war crimes
Photo: SBU chief Yevhen Khmara (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) is investigating the vast majority of Russian war crimes, with special attention focused on attacks targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, according to SBU chief Yevhen Khmara.
Scale of investigations and suspects
The SBU is currently handling more than 130,000 criminal cases related to Russia’s aggression. This accounts for around 80% of all crimes committed by Russian forces on Ukrainian territory.
According to Khmara, more than 1,000 Russians have already been formally suspected of committing war crimes. Investigators are working to identify everyone involved, from direct perpetrators to commanders and organizers of the attacks.
"Our task is not only to document the consequences of attacks on critical infrastructure and prove their systematic nature, but also to identify the perpetrators, commanders, and organizers," Khmara said.
Energy attacks as a strategy of terror
The SBU is paying particular attention to strikes on Ukraine’s oil, gas, and energy infrastructure. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, investigators have documented 596 attacks targeting oil and gas facilities alone.
Khmara stressed that Russia deliberately targets infrastructure that provides civilians with heating, gas, and water. According to him, this is viewed as a systematic campaign of terror aimed at creating humanitarian pressure on civilians, especially during winter.
"The enemy’s logic is that critical infrastructure is being used as a pressure point against society’s resilience, basic living conditions, and the population’s ability to endure a prolonged war," the SBU chief said.
Cooperation with international courts
All collected evidence is being submitted not only to Ukrainian courts but also to the International Criminal Court.
The materials are also being used to impose international sanctions against individuals and entities linked to the aggression.
Russia's war crimes
Ukraine says Russia continues to systematically violate international law, carrying out attacks on Ukrainians and prosecuting civilians in occupied areas.
One of the most high-profile recent cases involved three teenagers from Melitopol who were sentenced in Russia on fabricated terrorism charges. The boys received prison terms ranging from seven to eight and a half years after enduring torture and psychological pressure from Russian security forces. Human rights groups have described the case as a war crime.
At the same time, Russia continues attacks on humanitarian and educational facilities. On May 6, Russian drones struck a kindergarten in the central district of Sumy, causing fatalities among civilians and major destruction.
Russian forces have also continued using double strike tactics. In the Poltava region, rescuers responding to an earlier strike at a gas production facility were targeted again. The second attack killed several people and left more than 35 people injured.
