EU Parliament Condemns Russia's Brutal Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians

At its meeting on 9 July, the European Parliament adopted a resolution strongly condemning Russia's war crimes in Ukraine and expressing firm support for the investigations being conducted by the International Criminal Court.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to the European Parliament's press service.

The document was adopted by 507 votes, with 77 MEPs voting against and 45 abstaining.

MEPs express their deep outrage at Russia's brutal attacks on the civilian population and indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, stressing that systematic and deliberate attacks on the civilian population, and in particular the deportation of children, may constitute a strategy of genocide on the part of Moscow.

The document states that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, ‘has undermined peace and stability in Europe and seriously undermined global security.’

At the same time, it is emphasised that Russia remains the greatest and most immediate threat to European security.

MEPs stress that Russia bears full responsibility for its military aggression, and that human rights violations, war crimes and other violations of international law committed by Russian troops and officials must not go unpunished.

The resolution stresses that Russia is committing ‘horrific war crimes against civilians.’ According to Ukrainian authorities, about 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are currently being held in Russia and in temporarily occupied territories, but the real numbers are probably much higher.

At the same time, more than 70,000 Ukrainians, including civilians, children and military personnel, are considered missing.

The European Parliament strongly condemns the executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian military, stressing that these are war crimes and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions.

MEPs express their full support for the International Criminal Court's investigation into Russia's war crimes and crimes against humanity and welcome the recent agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine to establish a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. It is emphasised that all those involved in war crimes must be held accountable.

The EP called on Russia to immediately agree to an exchange of prisoners of war on an ‘all for all’ basis.

At the same time, MEPs believe that in order to put pressure on Russia to end its military aggression, starting with a lasting ceasefire, the EU and its allies need to take much more effective military, economic, political and diplomatic efforts and measures.

The European Parliament also calls for the continued confiscation of Russia's frozen state assets, directing them to support Ukraine. MEPs stress that there are legal ways to do this and that the lack of appropriate action is a ‘failure’ on the part of European governments.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Russia launched its most massive aerial offensive against Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, firing a staggering 741 air attack assets overnight on 9 July.