EU sets up joint investigation team with Ukraine into civilian killings

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday that the European Union will cooperate with Ukraine in investigating and collecting evidence in areas such as Bucha, where civilian killings have been uncovered this weekend following the departure of Russian troops, and where Brussels has offered to send investigators.

"The EU has set up a joint investigation team with Ukraine to collect evidence and investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity. The EU is ready to reinforce this effort by sending investigative teams on the ground to support the Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office. Eurojust and Europol are ready to help," Von der Leyen said in a statement after speaking on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski.

The German politician also pointed to "ongoing talks" between Eurojust (the EU's agency for criminal judicial cooperation) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) that include the Hague-based court also being part of such a joint investigation team.

"This coordinated approach by the Ukrainian authorities, the EU, its member states and agencies, and the International Criminal Court will allow evidence to be collected, analysed and processed as thoroughly and efficiently as possible," said Von der Leyen, who promised the Ukrainian leader that the "heartbreaking images" of dead civilians in the streets "cannot and will not go unanswered".

In addition, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders will liaise with Ukraine's prosecutor general and follow up on the issue, while Brussels will "provide all necessary technical and financial support to all EU-led investigations".

The human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) claimed to have indications that the Russian army had committed possible war crimes in areas under its control, including summary executions of civilians, although the Russian authorities deny this.

The European Union (EU) has already announced that it will move urgently to prepare new sanctions against Russia following "atrocities" committed by Russian armed forces in several occupied Ukrainian cities that have now been liberated.

"The EU will continue to stand firmly behind Ukraine and will move forward, as a matter of urgency, with work on new sanctions against Russia," said EU High Representative for Foreign and Defence Policy Josep Borrell on behalf of the EU-27.