Ukraine opens over 16,000 criminal cases against Russian soldiers since war began

Since the start of the war, Ukraine has opened 16,468 criminal cases against Russian soldiers, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova stated.

“Regarding war crimes, Ukraine has opened a total of 16,486 criminal cases. And tomorrow there will be 200 more, as you understand. We can’t not open them,” Venediktova told the Ukraine 24 TV channel (quoted by TASS).

She added that so far, there are 111 suspects in these cases. An additional eight cases are being processed by courts.

Venediktova added that Ukraine had named 623 suspects in the cases of “crimes of aggression.” The suspects include Russian “top officials, politicians, military officers” and public figures who are currently in Russia. A special remote investigation procedure will be used in these cases.

On 23 May, a court in Kyiv sentenced 21-year-old Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin to life in prison after he was found guilty of murdering Oleksandr Shelypov, a 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian.

Earlier, two Russian servicemen Aleksandr Bobykin and Aleksandr Ivanov were sentenced to 11 years and six months in a Ukrainian prison for violating warfare laws and customs. According to the prosecution, on the first day of the Russian invasion, Bobykin and Ivanov shelled Ukraine’s Kharkiv region using Grad multiple rocket launchers, first from the territory of Russia and then from Ukraine.