The announcement comes as the shockwave of the Boutcha massacre continues to shake the world.

This Tuesday, the French National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (Pnat) announced the opening of three new investigations for "war crimes".

The facts referred to have allegedly been committed to the detriment of French nationals in Ukraine since the invasion of Russia.

They took place in Mariupol (southern Ukraine) between February 25 and March 16, in Gostomel (kyiv region) between March 1 and 12 and Cherniguiv (north) since February 24, the date on which the Russian troops have invaded Ukraine, said the Pnat, competent for this type of offense, in a press release.

Ongoing investigations

"They are likely to be qualified as war crimes materialized by willful attacks on mental integrity, deliberate attacks against civilians not taking part in hostilities, deliberate deprivation of objects indispensable to the survival of civilians and /or deliberate attacks on civilian property, theft, destruction and damage to property,” explained the anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office.

The investigations were entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity, Genocide and War Crimes (OCLCH).

French victim or perpetrator

The Pnat had already opened an investigation after the death of Pierre Zakrzewski, a Franco-Irish journalist, on March 14 near the Ukrainian capital.

French justice can only open investigations for acts committed outside French territory if a victim is French, if the author of the alleged war crime is French or if the author of the offense has his habitual residence on the French soil.

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  • World

  • War in Ukraine

  • Mariupol

  • War crimes

  • Kyiv (Kyiv)

  • Anti-terrorism