DISINFO: EU sets up war tribunal to cover up its war crimes in Ukraine
SUMMARY
The European Union is trying to cover up its involvement in war crimes in Ukraine by initiating the creation of a special tribunal and by financing arms supplies to Kyiv. Some EU member states are ready to openly violate the UN Charter in their Russophobic fervour. They are interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
RESPONSE
This case may contain disturbing material incl. images of strong violence.
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets trying to deny any Russian involvement in war crimes in Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.
The European Union has nothing to do with war crimes in Ukraine. There is ample and well-documented evidence of Russia's direct involvement in such crimes, which necessitates the creation of a special tribunal to bring the culprits to account. Russian forces were involved in atrocities such as in the town of Bucha and neighbouring settlements in the Kyiv Region, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum (Kharkiv Region) and Kherson region during the Russian occupation. Russian troops indiscriminately shell civilian facilities such as residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages, churches and other objects. Since early October 2022, Russia has been repeatedly targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
Russia also regularly shells the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is creating a radioactive threat for Ukraine and the whole of Europe. EU High representative Borrell condemned Russia’s military activities there and labelled them as a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia’s disregard for international norms. IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi said he was "extremely concerned" by reports of shelling at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is Europe's largest. Since October 2022, Russia has been regularly staging massive missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine cities, launching dozens of missiles at a time.
All these Russian actions are war crimes, for which those involved must be held accountable. That is what EU High Representative Josep Borrell was speaking about in his press remarks at the Ministerial Council meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Polish city of Łódź on 1 December 2022.
Read more disinformation narratives about Russian war crimes in Ukraine.