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Germany investigates possible war crime in Ukrainian city of Hostomel

i24NEWS and agencies

3 min read
Firefighters push out a fire as police experts look for fragments of missile at a crater on an industrial area of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, after a massive overnight missile attack to Ukraine.
Sergei SUPINSKY / AFPFirefighters push out a fire as police experts look for fragments of missile at a crater on an industrial area of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, after a massive overnight missile attack to Ukraine.

The incident triggered an investigation in July, and German prosecutors are actively collaborating with Ukrainian authorities to probe the matter

German authorities are conducting an investigation into a potential war crime that occurred in Hostomel, Ukraine, according to a statement from federal prosecutors received by AFP on Wednesday.

It is alleged that Russian forces shot and injured civilians, including a German citizen, in the north-western Ukrainian city of Hostomel. 

The incident triggered an investigation in July, and German prosecutors are actively collaborating with Ukrainian authorities to probe the matter.

In March 2022, German prosecutors had already initiated a structural investigation into potential war crimes within Ukraine. 

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These structural investigations don't pinpoint specific suspects but aim to gather evidence related to alleged crimes, along with identifying the entities and command chains involved. The evidence collected can be used in future criminal proceedings against individuals suspected of wrongdoing.

Russia has faced severe international condemnation for its military actions in Ukraine, including allegations of attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and residential areas. 

(AP Photo/Roman Hrytsyna)
(AP Photo/Roman Hrytsyna)Students look at the damage at the institute they attend after a Russian rocket attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, began an investigation into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022. 

Earlier this year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes related to the alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.

(Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
(Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Cherkasy, Ukraine.

Germany has a history of prosecuting foreign atrocities, such as those in Syria, utilizing the legal principle of universal jurisdiction. 

The principle allows nations to pursue individuals for exceptionally grave crimes, including war crimes and genocide, even if these crimes occurred outside their borders.

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