Russia's Investigative Committee announced Monday that it was launching a criminal case against the Ukrainian leadership for the genocide of the Russian-speaking population of eastern Ukraine.
In a statement published on its website, the Investigative Committee accused Ukraine of having ordered the "complete elimination" of Russian-speakers during the conflict.
"Unidentified persons among the top political and military leadership of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard and Pravy Sector gave orders aimed at the complete elimination of Russian-speaking nationals residing on the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics," the statement said.
Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said that "no less than 2,500 people" had died as a result of their actions.
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