The International Criminal Court has issued a statement that it will be looking into the possibility that the forces of ‘Vlad the Invader’ (Russia) is committing human rights abuses against the population of Ukraine.
As Russian forces rolled into the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Wednesday, Mayor Igor Kolykhayev said a “miracle” was needed. It apparently did not arrive. The mayor says Kherson has fallen, making the strategic city of around 300,000 residents the first major city to be captured by the invaders in the week-old conflict, the New York Times reports. Kolykhayev tells the Times that Ukrainian forces have retreated and a Russian commander is in city hall, working on setting up a Russian administrative center. “There is no Ukrainian Army here,” the mayor says. “The city is surrounded.” More:
- Military denied city had fallen. Earlier Wednesday, the Ukrainian military denied Russia’s claim that it had taken control of the city, the Washington Post reports. The mayor said troops had visited his office to work out an agreement on limits on civilian movement, including a curfew and an order for vehicles to travel at “minimum speed.”
- Peace talks expected to resume Thursday. The resumption of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, earlier expected to happen late Wednesday, is now expected Thursday, reports the AP. Officials on both sides say delegations are on their way to talks in Belarus. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that while Ukraine is ready for talks to resume, his country will not accept any ultimatums from Russia.
- Reports of atrocities referred to ICC. Some 39 countries have submitted reports of atrocities in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court, a move that will speed up the investigation process, the Guardian reports. Liz Truss, Britain’s foreign secretary, said Russian forces were targeting civilians indiscriminately. “An investigation by the International Criminal Court into Russia’s barbaric acts is urgently needed,” she said. Prosecutor Karim Khan said an investigation will be opened immediately.
- Humanitarian crisis looms in Mariupol. The deputy mayor of Mariupol, another port city, told the BBC on Wednesday that Russian forces were trying to “destroy the city” with 15 hours of continuous bombardment. Serhiy Orlov said key infrastructure had been hit, parts of the city were short on food, and a residential area had been nearly destroyed. “We cannot count the number of victims there, but we believe at least hundreds of people are dead,” he said. “We cannot go in to retrieve the bodies. My father lives there, I cannot reach him, I don’t know if he is alive or dead.”
- Center of Kharkiv is a “wasteland.” The Russian advance on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, has apparently stalled, but troops have surrounded the country’s second city, Kharkiv, where heavy shelling has left the center a “wasteland of ruined buildings and debris,” reports Reuters. Dozens of people have been killed. Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said, “Kharkiv today is the Stalingrad of the 21st century.”
This should be looked into….but sadly their findings will come to nothing.
Why?
The major abusers of human rights like China, Russia, Israel and even the US do not recognize the authority of this organization or its findings.
CNN has stated that it will compile evidence to present to the ICC…..what would that be?
So far all MSM is basic reporting what they are told has happened….none of their journalists have seen these possible abuses first hand only the aftermath.
Why Ukraine?
They have not been so forthcoming it the US drone strikes or the Saudi/UAE destruction of Yemen or the Israeli treatment of Palestinians or hundreds of other ‘minor’ wars.
What is it about Ukraine that they feel they need to weigh into the legal proceedings?
I understand the gravity of war….but why is UKraine the only one?
I think that ALL nations if they have signed onto the UN charter should have to submit to these investigations and should abide by the rulings.
All these proceedings will accomplish is to generate propaganda tools to be used by the nation abused.
Just my thoughts…..
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
As I recall, the Allies in the Gulf War targeted Baghdad ‘indiscriminately’. I don’t remember any of them being charged by the ICC. I doubt anything will come of any charges against the Russians either.
Best wishes, Pete.
Don’t for get Israeli treatment of Palestinians or US drone strikes or UAE/Saudis in Yemen all need to be before ICC. chuq
The list is almost endless, chuq.
Definitely true. chuq
chuq, you might enjoy reading this perspective.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/why-john-mearsheimer-blames-the-us-for-the-crisis-in-ukraine?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB
Thanx for the link Pete…..a fascinating report…..chuq
ICC? Interstate Commerce Commission? 🙂
International Criminal Court…..the war crimes tribunal. chuq
I know, old chum.. just testing you. 😛
I kinda figured so….but I had to be sure….LOL chuq
I received an email from a friend regarding the actions of “Ukraine” and the war with Russia. I have noted that though I feel bad for the Ukraine people President Zelinsky is not all he is cracked up to be and that this war may be more contrived than we may have thought or known.
I have no doubt about the conflict but there is more than we are being told I believe…..chuq
The whole world can condemn the actions of Russia all they want to condemn them but all that condemnation is not going to have the least bit of effect because there is a mad man at the wheel determined to destroy the entire world in what some see as an inevitable nuclear holocaust, so why are we not talking about defensive measures a little bit more than we are? I want to hear about what the civilized world is doing about civil defense and bomb shelters and survival techniques. Right now we are all sitting ducks.
Quack. 🙂
John I think that the powers to be are not worried as the rest of us mere mortals. chuq