Russia

Criminal Code amendments, over 10,000 criminal cases against Ukraine, mercenaries

TASS English · 2026-06-25

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: The Russian Investigative Committee announced that over 10,000 criminal cases have been initiated against 2,500 Ukrainian officials and foreign mercenaries since 2014, citing the impact of Ukrainian operations in the Donbass region. • Why it matters: This development highlights ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with significant implications for international law and accountability regarding alleged war crimes and human rights violations. • What to watch next: Monitor potential legal proceedings related to these cases, as well as any amendments to Russian criminal legislation proposed by the Investigative Committee, particularly concerning crimes against children and the use of artificial intelligence in criminal activities.

Criminal Code amendments, over 10,000 criminal cases against Ukraine, mercenaries As a result of Ukrainian punitive operations, almost 5,000 people were killed© Alexander Shcherbak/TASSST. PETERSBURG, June 25. /TASS/. Over 10,000 criminal cases against 2,500 Ukrainian officials and foreign mercenaries have been initiated since 2014, Advisor to the Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Fyodorov said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPILF). He also stated that the committee suggests toughening penalties for crimes involving children, particularly for those of a sexual nature. TASS has compiled the key statements by the Advisor to the Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee. Kiev regime’s crimes Since 2014, over 10,000 criminal cases have been initiated against almost 2,500 Ukrainian officials, members of radical groups, Ukrainian law enforcement and foreign mercenaries. The case against 41 representatives of the Kiev regime regarding the genocide of the Donbass population has been sent to court. Since 2014, over 2.3 million Donbass civilians have been forced to leave their places of permanent residence. As a result of Ukrainian punitive operations, almost 5,000 people were killed, over 18,500 people were injured, more than 13,500 people suffered injuries, including 1,275 minors. Protection of military burial sites in the EU The Investigative Committee has initiated 162 criminal cases over 186 counts of desecration, destruction, or damage of military burial sites, monuments and memorials to Soviet soldiers in 15 EU countries. A total of 256 foreign citizens were brought to justice in absentia for these crimes. Investigative Committee’s proposal to amend criminal legislation The Investigative Committee proposes to toughen penalties for crimes involving children, including those of a sexual nature, by introducing an aggravating circumstance for crimes committed against a child by a parent, a teacher, a medical professional, or a social worker. Moreover, the Investigative Committee proposes to add a provision, considering the use of artificial intelligence, while committing a crime, as an aggravating factor, to Article 63 of the Russian Criminal Code. The committee insists again on introducing criminal liability for legal entities, because otherwise extraterritorial criminal prosecution is objectively limited. Proposals regarding property and assets of defendants The Investigative Committee proposes to amend Article 115 of Russia’s Criminal Procedural Code by authorizing the immediate seizure of property, which actually belongs to the defendant, but is formally registered in the names of third parties. Moreover, the committee proposes to continue the search for criminal assets after the end of the criminal investigation or the death of the defendant. The Investigative Committee’s work In 15 years of its existence, the Investigative Committee has sent to court around 1.5 million criminal cases against over 1.6 million defendants. Over this time, Russia’s Investigative Committee has recovered more than 1 trillion rubles for victims and the state in concluded criminal cases and has seized the property of defendants worth 929 billion rubles. Since 2024, the Investigative Committee has initiated criminal prosecution against 45 judges. 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Source: TASS English
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