From the Telegram channel of the Russian Foreign Ministry. See also OCSE observers were spies and artillery fire corrector for the Ukrainian side.

Interview by Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin, to TASS News Agency (March 3, 2025)

Key talking points:

• Since 2014, the Investigative Committee has initiated 6’500 criminal cases related to crimes against peace and security of humanity, as well offensives against individuals and property. Most of the criminal cases under investigation involve shelling of civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Kiev regime, though evidence of other crimes of varying severity have been established as well.

• A total of 918 individuals are being held criminally liable in these cases, including members of the high command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and commanders of military units that have been targeting civilians.

• The investigation of 423 criminal cases against 566 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries has been completed. Evidence has been gathered of their involvement in using prohibited warfare methods, cruel treatment of prisoners of war and civilians, and murder and damage to property. Sentences have been handed down to 519 individuals, among them 145 members of the banned Azov regiment (designated as a terrorist organisation in Russia). Life sentences have been imposed on 62 individuals.

• Since February 2022, the investigative bodies have opened 5’031 criminal cases against servicemen of Ukraine’s armed formations which represent 80% of all ongoing cases.

• The evidence indicates that, beyond following orders from higher-ranking officials, motives for these crimes include political and ethnic hatred towards the Russian-speaking population.

• Since the beginning of the special military operation, the Kiev regime has attacked the territories of 34 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. These regions are located outside the area of the military operation. These attacks have involved Western-made weapons such as tactical missile systems, multiple rocket launchers and artillery systems, as well as UAVs. As a result of the criminal actions committed by the Ukrainian side, 652 civilians have died, including 23 children and 2’980 people, including 169 children, were injured. Criminal cases are being investigated for all of these incidents.

• European politicians can talk all they want about facts that are far from reality. However, we know that it is them who are making decisions on arms supplies to Ukraine. Therefore these individuals must also be held responsible for civilian casualties in our country.

• The Kiev regime uses both domestic and Western weaponry. In conjunction with the Russian Defence Ministry, we are documenting the facts of foreign weapon and other equipment supplies. The most lethal weapons are supplied by the UK, Canada, Italy, Germany, Romania, Estonia, and a number of other countries. These include Storm Shadow cruise missiles, artillery shells, tank rounds, mortar shells, aerial bombs, ammunition and, of course, UAVs, which are widely used not only in combat, but against civilian targets as well.

• The investigation has identified 3’300 mercenaries from more than 70 countries fighting in Ukraine, including 712 from Georgia, 694 from Great Britain, and 719 from Canada. Based on the evidence, 871 mercenaries have been indicted and 652 have been put on the international wanted list. The Investigative Committee has completed the investigation of 101 criminal cases against foreign mercenaries who took part in hostilities on the side of the Ukrainian forces for financial compensation. As a result, courts have issued guilty verdicts against 72 individuals from 15 countries.

• More than 39’000 people have been interviewed as part of criminal cases related to the events in the Kursk Region, with over 27’000 of them recognised as victims. The destruction of over 20 cultural heritage sites has been documented. It has been established that municipal facilities, large agricultural enterprises, other organisations and individual entrepreneurs suffered damage amounting to more than 26 billion roubles [approximately $300 million].