Ukrainian troops occupying part of Russia’s Kursk region have kidnapped and sexually abused locals, according to Rodion Miroshnik, who heads the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special mission to investigate alleged Ukrainian war crimes.
In an interview with Russian media on Thursday, Miroshnik confirmed earlier reports that Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries have committed a large number of abuses against civilians since the assault on the region began on August 6.
– We have evidence of sexual violence committed by both foreign mercenaries and Ukrainian radicals.
According to Miroshnik, the Ukrainian leadership has sent “all of its scum” to the front in the Kursk region, allegedly in an apparent attempt to get the unwanted fighters out of their country and “dispose” of them, Russia’s RT reported
“We have data that Ukrainian militants are taking action to kidnap people. They are snatching civilians and taking them away to an unknown location. We often lose contact with them. Where are they taken? To Ukrainian territory, or to secret prisons?” he asked.
“Forced into trucks”
The Ukrainian forces are described as “terrorists” and the families of those abducted are often not informed either, it is claimed. It is also unclear how many people are involved, as Moscow’s lists contain only “fragmentary data” and testimonies of people “forced into trucks and taken in an unknown direction“.
Miroshnik goes on to say that more than 4,000 mercenaries have so far been identified by Russian authorities and will be brought to justice.
This is not the first time since the Ukrainian invasion of the Kurk region began that Moscow has accused Kiev of committing countless abuses against the civilian population. However, Ukraine has consistently denied all such allegations, arguing that it was a purely military operation necessary to protect its territory from Russian aggression.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine is estimated to have lost around 7,000 soldiers since the attack began.
