Ukraine has announced that it has launched an investigation into 21,000 war crimes it claims have been committed by Russia since the start of the invasion.
Military prosecutor General Irina Venicetova told the BBC that she receives reports of 200 to 300 war crimes in her office every day.
Stating that the hearings can be held mostly in the absence of the defendants, Venicetova argued that the prosecution is a matter of justice.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. The Kremlin denies all allegations of war crimes.
Speaking to the BBC World Service’s Outside Source program, Irina Venicetova warned that it is only a matter of time before the Russian soldiers who kill, torture or rape civilians are brought to trial.
mass graves
Stating that her team is carrying out research across Ukraine, Venicetova stated that it was not possible to investigate all the allegations effectively and properly because there was no access to some areas.
Venicetova is believed to be referring here to crimes allegedly committed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
Irina Venicetova says that about 600 suspects were identified in May, and the prosecution started against 80 others.
Vadim Shishimarin, the first Russian soldier to be tried in Ukraine, was sentenced to life in prison in May for the murder of a civilian.
He says he has found mass graves in Bucha, Borodyanka, and several other cities near the capital Kyiv that were briefly under Russian occupation.
The International Criminal Court had described Ukraine as a “crime scene” and sent its largest team of detectives to assist with the investigations.
Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations that it targets civilians.