Ukraine a ‘crime scene’, ICC chief says as US sends more military aid
- Joe Biden to send more military aid to Ukraine after accusing Russia of ‘genocide’
- Presidents of four countries on Russia’s doorstep toured war-ravaged areas near Kyiv
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US President Joe Biden announced a US$800 million military aid package for Ukraine as international prosecutors declared the war-torn Western ally a “crime scene” amid fears of a massive revamped Russian assault.
The announcement came with the Russian military threatening to strike Ukraine’s command centres in the capital Kyiv if Ukrainian troops continue to attack Russian territory.
“We are seeing Ukrainian troops’ attempts to carry out sabotage and strike Russian territory. If such cases continue, the Russian armed forces will strike decision-making centres, including in Kyiv,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
The warning sparked alarm in Ukraine’s largest city, as Moscow was believed to be refocusing its war aims – withdrawing from Kyiv after failing to capture it and shifting attention to the south and east.
Biden has accused President Vladimir Putin of genocide – a claim dismissed as “unacceptable” by the Kremlin – as Russia comes under increasing scrutiny over atrocities discovered in towns since abandoned by its forces.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backed Biden but France and Germany declined to follow suit, drawing the ire of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who denounced French leader Emmanuel Macron’s stance as “very painful for us”.
The Pentagon says it has been looking to provide Ukraine with weapons that would “give them a little more range and distance,” with Kyiv girding for a huge escalation of violence in the eastern Donbas region.
The new US shipment will include armoured personnel carriers, helicopters and some of the heavier equipment Washington had previously refused to send to Ukraine for fear of escalating the conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.
Before announcing the aid, Biden spoke to Zelensky for about an hour, the White House said, pledging “to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself”.
Biden accuses Russia of ‘genocide’ in Ukraine
The Hague-based International Criminal Court, which deals with rights abuses, has investigators in Ukraine and told reporters the country had become a “crime scene”.
Officials in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha – now synonymous with scores of atrocities – say more than 400 people were found dead after Moscow’s forces withdrew, with 25 reported rapes.
“We’re here because we have reasonable grounds to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the court are being committed,” the ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan said on a visit to the town.
Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said Russia had engaged in “clear patterns of international humanitarian law violations”.
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Russian troops leave mines, trenches, graffiti and garbage for Lubyanka villagers in Ukraine
Before the latest military aid package, the United States had supplied or promised Ukraine 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 5,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles, several thousand rifles with ammunition and a range of other equipment.
But even with their own weaponry and US support, Ukrainian forces have struggled to hold the key southern port of Mariupol, where Zelensky has estimated “tens of thousands” of civilians have died.
Russia’s defence ministry said Wednesday more than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered in Mariupol, as air strikes targeted the city’s huge Azovstal iron and steel works.
Ukraine president condemns ‘war crime’ attack on maternity hospital
Meanwhile, the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia met Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday and called for increased military support for Ukraine.
“This is not war, this is terrorism,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said at a news conference in Kyiv, flanked by Zelensky and the Baltic states’ presidents.
“We’re not just talking about the soldiers who committed those crimes, but those who issued orders – all of them should be brought to justice,” he said.
Russia has denied that its forces targeted civilians and has said Ukrainian and Western allegations of war crimes are fabricated.
The wish for Russia to be held accountable was echoed by the other visiting presidents, who also said they planned to push the international community to ramp up military support for Ukraine as it readies for an intensified offensive by Russia in the East.
“It is our duty to help Ukraine with all kinds of weapons,” said Latvian President Egils Levits.
His Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda said: “The future of Ukraine will be decided on the battlefield … Ukraine must win”.
The four presidents’ visit came a day after Putin promised Moscow would “rhythmically and calmly” continue its operation and achieve its goals.
Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press
