Russia will be put to trial for war crimes, promises Ukraine PM Denys Shmyhal

Ukraine‘s Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, has accused Russia of war crimes after bombing civilian sites, saying Moscow will face a “military tribunal.”

Shmyhal claimed at a news conference on Saturday that Russia shelled kindergartens, residential blocks, and “buses with children.” 

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“For these crimes, the Russian command will surely see a military tribunal. The enemy will surely be punished for killing Ukrainian children. Ukraine will not forgive them for this, ” Shmyhal stated.

Russia, according to the prime minister, is purposefully hitting civilian infrastructure because it is “failing” in its offensive.

“The Russian government doesn’t understand they are not fighting only with the government. In fact, they are fighting against the entire Ukrainian people,” he said.

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Russia has stated that its forces are only targeting military targets and are not attacking civilian areas.

Following a government meeting on Saturday, Shmyhal said that Ukraine will temporarily close its borders with Belarus and Russia, save for Ukrainian people living abroad, whom he urged to join the struggle.

“Please do come back and do prove you are on the side of the light. And I’m addressing all civilized countries: On whose side are you on?” Shmyhal asked. “Are you on the side of the killers of children, or are you on the side of the great European people who are defending their country and they’re defending their freedom from the aggression?”

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Ukraine is closing its borders to Russia and Belarus, the prime minister also announced on Saturday evening. Though he did not state when the closure will be put into effect. He said only Ukrainian citizens will be allowed to cross from Russia and Belarus into Ukraine beginning Monday, February 28.