Top German prosecutor kicks off probe into alleged Russian war crimes

BERLIN

Germany's federal prosecutor launched an investigation on Tuesday into possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine, according to media reports.

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann told the daily Passauer Neue Presse that he had initiated a "structural investigation procedure."

In a structural investigation procedure, the first step is to secure as much evidence as possible without specific suspects. This information will later be used to hold individuals criminally responsible.

According to the German Press Agency DPA, the federal prosecutor has concrete evidence that war crimes have already been committed.

The investigators also fear that there could still be more crimes committed, it said.

The latest developments came in the wake of a decision by the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court to also launch a probe into whether Russian President Vladimir Putin or other top politicians in the Kremlin could be held liable for war crimes or crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court is responsible for enforcing international law and determining the guilt of individuals. Unlike the International Court of Justice, it does not look at states, but rather at individual defendants.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 406 civilians have been killed and 801 others injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to UN figures.

More than 1.7 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, the UN refugee agency said.