British Police Examine 50 Allegations Of War Crimes After Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Illustration of Russian soldiers in Ukraine. (Wikimedia Common/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - British police said on Friday they were gathering evidence after receiving about 50 reports of alleged war crimes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The London Metropolitan Police's War Crimes Team said its specialist detectives assessed about 50 referrals made since the start of the conflict as part of the action to support the International Criminal Court's investigation.

"We have around 50 referrals to us and we expect that number to grow over the coming weeks, as more and more people fleeing Ukraine arrive here in the UK", said Chief Detective, Inspector Dominic Murphy, from London police Counter-Terrorism Command, reported Reuters April 22.

Yesterday, Britain imposed 26 new sanctions targeting Russian military generals it held responsible for atrocities in Ukraine, as well as individuals and businesses supporting Russia's armed forces.

"Today's new wave of sanctions hit generals and defense companies covered in blood", Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.

Britain, which has sought to play a central role in the Western response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, has imposed hundreds of sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel bans on billionaires and prominent Russian politicians including President Vladimir Putin.

The latest sanctions include an asset freeze and a travel ban on Azatbek Omurbekov, a Russian army commander who the British government says was involved in the 'Bucha massacre'.

The United States and European countries, including Britain, have accused Russian troops of war crimes since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Meanwhile, Russia, which says it has launched a "special military operation" to "denazify" Ukraine, has rejected the accusations, accusing the West of falsifying evidence to smear its soldiers.