The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor visited the town of Bucha on Wednesday – the scene of hundreds of civilian killings which Ukraine has blamed on Russian forces who occupied it for several weeks.
"Ukraine is a crime scene. We're here because we have reasonable grounds to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the court are being committed," Karim Khan told reporters
"We have to pierce the fog of war to get to the truth. That requires independent, impartial investigation," he said.
Khan said an ICC forensic team was set to work "so that we can really make sure we separate truth from fiction."
"We have to keep an open mind and we have to follow the evidence," he said.
"The law needs to be mobilized and sent into battle to protect civilians."
Russia has denied responsibility for the deaths and President Vladimir Putin has dismissed reports of Russian soldiers shooting civilians as "fake."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
