Finland Investigates Alleged Russian Military Crimes in Ukraine
The National Bureau of Investigation of Finland (NBI) is conducting an inquiry into alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces during the conflict in Ukraine. As part of the investigation, 50 Ukrainians, who were compelled to seek refuge in Finland due to the Russian invasion, have been interviewed.
This information was reported by the YLE news outlet, citing the Chief Inspector of the NBI, Olli Töyräs.
According to the official, the inquiry was initiated back in winter this year. During this time, investigators managed to interview several dozens of individuals, most of whom were witnesses to the alleged war crimes.
"In the worst-case scenario, the alleged war crimes in these cases have led to fatalities, including circumstances where close and immediate family members lost their lives, and the course of events suggests possible war crimes," stated Töyräs.
Additionally, the inspector pointed out that there are cases where Ukrainians are unwilling to share what they experienced in Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion. In such instances, investigators do not press for testimony, as it "depends on how much each person is willing to disclose."
Witnesses of the alleged Russian war crimes during the conflict in Ukraine, who possess information and are willing to share it with investigators, can directly approach the NBI.
"If a Ukrainian resident here feels that they have information and want to bring it to the authorities' attention, they can turn to the nearest police station," emphasized the inspector.
It is expected that investigators will continue gathering information "until the suspicion of alleged war crimes becomes specific and credible," at least until next year.
Recalling recent events, the AP publication released an investigation concerning the network of Kremlin-operated torture facilities for Ukrainians in Russia and Russia-occupied Ukrainian territories. The inquiry involved interviews with former prisoners, war captives, and family members of those who are still in captivity.
According to updated data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, between February 24, 2022, and June 30, 2023, there have been 25,170 civilian casualties in 1,504 populated areas of Ukraine as a result of the Russian war. Among these, there were 9,177 fatalities and 15,993 injured individuals.