Europe 1 with AFP 3:11 p.m., April 10, 2022

Ukraine has opened 5,600 investigations for alleged war crimes on its territory since the start of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova told British channel Sky News on Sunday.

This investigation also targets 500 Russian war criminals. 

An edifying number.

Calling Russian President Vladimir Putin "the main war criminal of the 21st century", Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova claimed to have identified 5,600 cases of alleged war crimes in Ukraine, as well as 500 Russian war criminals.

She cited in particular the attack on Kramatorsk station, in which 52 civilians, including five children, were killed in a strike attributed to a Russian missile.

"Absolutely, this is a war crime," said Iryna Venediktova, claiming to have "evidence" that Russia was behind the attack.

"These people just wanted to save their lives, they wanted to be evacuated."

Boris Johnson's visit hailed by Ukraine

She thanked Prime Minister Boris Johnson who visited kyiv on Saturday as part of an unexpected trip where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and promised new weapons to Ukraine.

"What Putin did to Boutcha and Irpin were war crimes that permanently tarnished his reputation," said Boris Johnson, referring to the two small towns near the Ukrainian capital that have become symbols of the atrocities of the Russian invasion. .

It's "really great support for us," said Iryna Venediktova about Boris Johnson's visit, the first by a G7 official to Ukraine since the start of the invasion.

"A special mechanism" set up to examine war crimes

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a "special mechanism" would be created to "investigate and prosecute all crimes of the occupiers in our country", adding that it would operate on the basis of "joint work national and international experts.

"This mechanism will help Ukraine and the world to bring to justice those who have started or participated in any way in this terrible war against the Ukrainian people and crimes against our people", explained the head of state. .