The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has decided to focus on crimes committed by Russian military personnel against Ukrainian prisoners of war. This was stated by the Head of the Ukraine Team Office of the Prosecutor ICC, Brenda Hollis, during the workshop International Law of Armed Conflicts and Mechanisms for Accountability for Russia's International Crimes.
"We are now focusing our attention on crimes committed in detention and as a result of detention. And we're looking at detention of both prisoners of war and civilians," said Hollis.
The prosecutor noted that under international law, military personnel can be taken prisoner. They can be held captive, but they cannot be tortured, killed, subjected to violence, or other crimes. Civilians cannot be held captive.
"Even if it is a lawful detention, you can't torture them. You can't kill them, you can't commit sexual violence against them, you can't starve them," Hollis added.
Execution of Ukrainian soldiers
Russia often disregards international law on the humane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Numerous pieces of evidence have emerged online showing that Russians torture, hold in inadequate conditions, and kill Ukrainian defenders taken prisoner.
Earlier, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch reported that since December 2023, Russian occupiers have executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers who tried to surrender.
Additionally, according to human rights activists, enemy soldiers shot another six Ukrainian fighters who were already captured.
As of early April, Ukraine was aware of the execution of more than 50 Ukrainian defenders.
Recently, it was reported that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are investigating the execution of more than 60 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who were taken prisoner by the Russians.