SBU Officially Announces Court-Announced Suspect Against Kadyrov for Using Ukrainian Prisoners as ‘Human Shields’
The Security Service of Ukraine has taken a significant step in addressing war crimes by issuing an official notice of suspicion against Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic within the Russian Federation.
He is suspected of ordering the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war as ‘human shields’ for Russian troops.
This case represents one of the most egregious violations of international humanitarian law during the ongoing conflict.
According to the investigation, Kadyrov openly stated in speeches before Russian propagandists that he instructed his subordinates not to take Ukrainian fighters prisoner but to execute them on the battlefield.
This order was directed at Chechen units fighting as part of the Russian occupation forces against Ukraine.
Additionally, investigators found that Kadyrov ordered Ukrainian captives to be taken to rooftops of military facilities in Grozny, effectively exposing them to danger and proposing their use as ‘living shields’ against Ukrainian drone attacks.
Such actions constitute serious breaches of the laws and customs of war under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Based on collected evidence, Ukrainian investigators formally informed Kadyrov of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which pertains to war crimes.
The investigation remains ongoing under the supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Remember that in 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine previously issued a suspicion notice to Ramzan Kadyrov for crimes against Ukraine, including encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the conduct of aggressive warfare, which threaten long prison sentences or even life imprisonment.