Ukraine has denounced that Russia has committed 54 war crimes against journalists since the start of the invasion

He Ukrainian government reported this Thursday that since the start of the russian invasion on its territory, have been detected 54 cases that could be considered war crimes against journalistsand criminal proceedings based on these crimes have already been initiated.

The deputy head of National Police Ukrainian, Maxime Tsutzkiridzeexplained that during this period there were 29 journalists killed, 17 injured and 12 cases of journalists who at some point found themselves in Russian-controlled territory with their freedom of movement denied.

“Their fate is partially unknown, some are in captivity. All these facts are under investigation“, assured the police officer, who is also the chief of the Main research department.

He said they are currently investigating ten cases, including one of deprivation of liberty of a Ukrainian journalistOleg Baturin, who disappeared in the region of Kherson while covering the war for the newspaper New day“He was released and testifies about the representatives of the occupation authorities of Kherson”.

Meanwhile, some 3,000 inhabitantsbetween them 33 childrenstill remain in the devastated city of Bakhmutin eastern Ukraine, the scene for six months of the worst fighting between Russians and Ukrainians.

Civilians trying to survive in this town in the Donetsk region ‘absolutely’ refuse to be evacuatedsaid Thursday Pavlo Kyrylenkoregional governor.

Considering the situation and amid the constant shelling taking place in the area, Kyrylenko explained that a “mandatory evacuation“of all minors, according to the local agency inquire.

“The evacuation not only affects Bakhmut, but the entire front line“, specified the governor. According to the data he had, a week ago there were still 42 children in the nearby town of Avdiivka and, currently, there are only 13 left.

Kyrylenko added that in the tasks of evacuating civilians, especially minors, a police team called “White angel”.

“The evacuated children – he explained – are taken to other regions, where they are placed in preschool educational centers, boarding schools, health centers… For example, Bakhmut children are mostly evacuated to the Transcarpathian regionin the west of the country.

This compulsory evacuation mechanism was approved on March 7 by the Council of Ministers chaired by Volodimir Zelensky.

Bakhmut, who came to have a population of about 70,000 inhabitantsendured for six months the most brutal fighting between Russians and Ukrainians since the start of the invasion, during which the human casualties numbered in the thousands on both sides.

The mercenary group operates in the region wagnera strike force linked to the President of Russia, Vladimir Poutinewhich has integrated into its ranks hundreds of prisoners from Russian prisons who are promised amnesty if they join the front.

The control of the city, already completely destroyed by the continuous bombardments, has become a priority objective for kyiv and Moscow, even if many analysts consider its geostrategic importance as relative.

(With information from Europa Press and EFE)

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