BBC: Russia’s actions in Ukraine are a “playbook of what war crimes look like”, Dr Michael Newton, a former senior adviser to the US Ambassador at Large or War Crimes has told the BBC.
The bodies found outside Kyiv are believed to be just the latest example. He said others seen perpetrated so far by Russia include:
- Intentional targeting of civilians
- intentional destruction of civilian property
- indiscriminate shelling
- starvation of a civilian population
Dr Newton also said while it was clear war crimes were happening at a “macro level”, it was important also to look to a “granular level of specific preparation of specific cases against individuals”.
He rubbished Russia’s response that it hasn’t targeted civilians during the war. Moscow on Sunday claimed the reports of bodies in the streets in Bucha and Irpin were fake.
Dr Newton said the Russians could say whatever they liked but “the evidence here is irrefutable”.
