Bucha, Irpin, Motyzhyn, Vorzel, Borodyanka, Dymer, Dmytrivka… All these towns near the capital of Ukraine were not very well known in the world before. There were people who lived in peace, worked honestly, and made plans for the future. Now, these cities of the Kyiv region are symbols of the inhuman atrocities of the Russian Armed Forces. After these cities’ liberation, the world knew about the horrific crimes of the Russian occupiers. There were civilians shot dead with their hands tied (even children) in the streets and in torture chambers, mass graves, raped and killed women and girls, human bodies burned, and houses destroyed and looted in cities and towns of Kyiv oblast.

Such atrocities, tortures, looting, as well as destruction by shellings, and bombing (including banned bombs)  were committed by Russian forces and continue in various cities and villages of Ukraine. Only in besieged and destroyed by airstrikes Mariupol at least 5000 civilians were killed, including 210  children.

The bombing of hospitals and homes, executions, atrocities and rapes are part of Russian inhumane tactics. Russian forces continue to purposefully destroy the people of Ukraine and do not stop even at the time of the negotiation talks. The Russian troops are cynically ignoring all the rules of war and international humanitarian law, as well as the principles of humanity.

The crimes of the Russian Forces are documented by both Ukrainian and international human rights organizations and journalists. There are victims and witnesses that are testifying. We call for Russia to be punished severely for crimes against humanity and genocide in accordance with the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Statute of the International Military Tribunal, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

According to published documents, Russia was preparing for a blitzkrieg and mass extermination against the Ukrainian people. But the people of Ukraine are resisting and fighting for the right to life, their freedom, and independence.

Ukraine needs assistance, primarily military, financial, and humanitarian aid. We ask you to call on your governments to provide this assistance to Ukraine and to impose tougher sanctions on the Russian Federation.

Russia must be stopped immediately! Putin’s fascist criminal regime wants to destroy the people of Ukraine and also threatens peace and stability in Europe and the world.

Stand with Ukraine! Help the people of Ukraine to win in the struggle for independence and peace!

Yours sincerely,

Mykhailo Volynets,

Chairperson of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU)