Send Legal And Police Teams To Investigate War Crimes In Ukraine, UK: We'll Hold Putin's Regime Accountable

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a visit to the Bucha region. (Wikimedia Commons/Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Britain will provide a specialist legal and police team to assist the chief prosecutor in investigating allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Support will be provided for an independent investigation, on top of the £1 million already provided by the UK Government, Raab continued.

Later, support will include a Metropolitan Police officer stationed in The Hague, giving the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its prosecutor, Karim Khan, instant access to more British police and military expertise.

The UK also offers the services of seven lawyers, experienced in international criminal law, to help uncover evidence and prosecute those responsible for war crimes.

The ICC has started an investigation that could focus on senior officials believed to be responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Atrocities have been uncovered in areas including Bucha, outside the Ukrainian capital, where the bound and gagged bodies of civilians were found in the streets after they were executed, it is claimed, by retreating Russian soldiers.

Mass graves have been found and Ukrainian women have reported being raped by Russian soldiers during the conflict that has lasted more than 100 days.

"The UK quickly responded to a request from the International Criminal Court for more police and lawyers to assist in their investigation of Russian war crimes in Ukraine," Minister Raab said.

"Russian troops must know that they will be held accountable for their actions, and the global community will work together to ensure justice is served."

Meanwhile, Attorney General Suella Braverman said: "Following my appointment of war crimes expert Sir Howard Morrison as independent adviser to the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, I am determined that British expertise continues to be available to our friends in Ukraine in seeking justice.

"We will stand side by side as they reveal the truth and hold those responsible within (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime accountable for their actions," he stressed.

Support will also include two police officers with expertise in intelligence gathering through publicly available data.

The Justice Ministry said Britain would continue to provide defense analysis and monitoring of events in Ukraine, including the retention of evidence relating to war crimes.

Ministers have pledged to provide training in war crimes investigations to Ukrainian police on behalf of the ICC, in collaboration with Norwegian police.