‘Despicable 10’ troops wanted for war crimes
UKRAINE has released details of Russian soldiers dubbed the ‘Despicable Ten’ over their alleged involvement in horrific war crimes in Bucha.
The troops, aged between 24 and 33, are all from the same unit allegedly responsible for the abuse, rape and murder of hundreds of civilians in the town outside Kyiv.
Prosecutors released their images yesterday along with detailed biographies which said some of the soldiers are married with young children.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said the men, whose ranks range from private up to a sergeant, were ‘involved in the torture of peaceful people’.
‘During the occupation of Bucha, they took unarmed civilians hostage, killed them with hunger and thirst, kept them on their knees with hands tied and eyes taped, mocked and beat them,’ she said. ‘We will not stop until we bring each of them to justice.’
Allegations of mass killings in the suburb outside Kyiv caused outrage after evidence emerged following the withdrawal of Russian troops.
Soldiers named among the ‘Despicable Ten’ include a 25-year-old sergeant, Nikita Akimov, who investigators claim has a wife and children.
Another, 26-year-old Corporal Semyon Maltsev, was a dancer in Russia before he signed up for the military. A third, Private Sergei Peskarev, 24, was said to have worked in a supermarket months before the invasion.
Ukrainian media shared pictures of the men, including several smiling with their partners and children.
They are allegedly part of the notorious 64th Motor Rifle Brigade, which is now thought to be deployed in northeastern Ukraine.
Images of the men have reportedly been shown to survivors of the Bucha atrocities to confirm their identities.
The Kremlin has denied allegations of war crimes. Last week Commander Azatbek Omurbekov, nicknamed the ‘Butcher of Bucha’ for allegedly overseeing the atrocities, was promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said: ‘Ten Russian butchers from the 64th brigade have been identified and named suspects responsible for committing the Bucha massacre. This unit [has] been awarded for its atrocities, and returned to the battlefield. Justice for war criminals is inevitable.’
Miss Venediktova said the cases will be prosecuted in Ukraine’s domestic courts. But the highest prize would be conviction in an international court.
She said investigators have identified more than 8,000 cases of suspected war crimes. They include ‘killing civilians, bombing of civilian infrastructure, torture’ and ‘sexual crimes’ that are being reported in the ‘occupied territory of Ukraine’.
‘They tortured peaceful people’