Russia Doesn’t Recognize Crimes Court Amid Fierce Fighting In Ukraine (Worthy News Radio)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Moscow says it won’t cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after new allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Tuesday’s announcement came as recent fighting was reported in eastern Ukraine, where authorities said among civilians, at least one person was killed and three injured in shelling of the city of Kramatorsk and a 55-year-old woman whose car was hit in Vovchansk city.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Russia “does not recognize the jurisdiction” of the ICC in the Dutch city of The Hague.
Peskov spoke amid reports that the ICC was due to issue its first arrest warrants against Russian individuals for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
The comments came after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded his country’s highest honor to a captured Ukrainian soldier who was filmed apparently being killed by Russian troops.
Oleksandr Matsievskiy, who was 42, was unarmed when he was videoed smoking cigarettes and shouting “Glory to Ukraine” before being gunned down. “Today, I have bestowed the title of Hero of Ukraine on soldier Oleksandr Matsievskiy,” Zelensky said in his nightly address from Kyiv. “A man that all Ukrainians will know. A man who will be forever remembered. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine, and his ‘Glory to Ukraine.'”
Matsievskiy, a sniper serving with a unit from the northern region of Chernihiv, is believed to have been captured at the end of last year while fighting in the eastern city of Bakhmut.
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Kyiv called the killing “another proof that this war is genocidal” after several other reported crimes, including massacres, vowing to hunt down the perpetrators.
The investigation into war crimes as fighting continues Tuesday in Ukraine’s east, with several casualties being reported.
However, Ukraine’s defense ministry claims it was fighting back, killing at least 700 Russian troops in the last 24 hours. However, those claims could not be independently verified.
Yet, Western observers agree that at least tens of thousands of troops have been killed and injured on both sides since Russia’s invasion began more than a long year ago.
Despite the clashes, Moscow says it seeks to extend a grain deal for 60 days with Ukraine, seen as one of the world’s breadbaskets.
However, Kyiv reportedly insists on a 120-day extension of the deal, allowing unhindered grain shipping to several countries to avoid or limit more global food shortages.
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