In a recent interview with state news agency RIA, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that over 200 Ukrainian soldiers have been given prison sentences by Russian courts since the start of Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine.

According to Lavrov’s statement to RIA, over 200 members of Ukrainian armed groups have been given lengthy prison sentences by the courts of the Russian Federation for their involvement in violent acts.

Each party blames the other for committing multiple acts of violence during the conflict initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The United Nations has discovered ongoing proof of war crimes and infringements on human rights carried out by the Russian government, such as torture, sexual assault, and the removal of children.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The warrant claimed that Moscow’s actions of forcibly deporting Ukrainian children constitute a war crime.

In summarizing 2023, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin, stated that the main achievement in the pursuit of justice was the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for Putin.

“This momentous ruling serves as a strong message that the law applies to everyone equally.”

According to its website, the Prosecutor General’s office in Ukraine has recorded over 121,000 instances of Russian aggression and war crimes since the conflict began.

The United Nations has discovered multiple instances of Ukrainian officials violating the rights of individuals accused of working with Russian authorities.

According to Lavrov, the Investigative Committee, Russia’s primary investigative agency, has launched 4,000 criminal proceedings involving approximately 900 Ukrainian individuals.

Lavrov stated that the individuals involved were not limited to members of extreme nationalist groups, but also included representatives from Ukrainian security forces, hired fighters, and military and political leaders from Ukraine.

“Individuals who were charged in their absence are now listed on the international wanted list.”