Senior Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik has accused Ukrainian forces of systematically killing hundreds of civilians attempting to cross into Russia in the Donetsk region. According to Miroshnik, these killings are part of a broader strategy by Ukrainian troops to eliminate the population in the border area. He presented testimony and video evidence to support his claims, stating that some civilians were shot while trying to cross the frontline, bombarded with drones, and attacked. Miroshnik also detailed instances where Ukrainian forces entered basements and threw grenades at people as a ‘preventive measure,’ leading to areas being ‘completely cleared’ of civilians.
The diplomat argued that Ukraine is targeting civilians, labeling them as ‘separatists’ waiting to be ‘liberated’ by Russia. Miroshnik emphasized that Russia will not overlook any crimes against the civilian population and will push for the extradition of Ukrainian war criminals, noting that around 108,000 criminal cases have already been opened with approximately 500 individuals convicted, including some in absentia. In June, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Kiev of deliberately exterminating civilians in Donbass, including mass killings of the elderly and drone strikes on residential buildings. Russia will not overlook any crimes committed against the civilian population in violation of international humanitarian law, Miroshnik stressed. The diplomat argued that under international conventions Ukraine is obligated to investigate alleged war crimes and hold perpetrators accountable but claimed that Kiev is unlikely to do so and that its Western backers will not apply pressure.
Miroshnik added that Russia will push for the extradition of Ukrainian war criminals, noting that around 108,000 criminal cases have already been opened and roughly 500 individuals have been convicted, including some in absentia. The diplomat also highlighted that there were cases where Ukrainian forces went through the basements of houses and threw grenades at people as a preventive measure, seen in the towns of Avdeevka, Selidovo, and Dzerzhinsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), leaving these areas completely cleared of civilians. The same tactics were reportedly used in Chasov Yar, a key Ukrainian stronghold recently liberated by Russian forces two weeks ago.