Dutch police investigate war crimes in Ukraine

Dutch police investigate war crimes in Ukraine

The Netherlands sends 30 border police officers to Ukraine to investigate possible war crimes. Investigators are due to leave for Kiev in the first half of May and work there under the authority of the International Criminal Court, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Friday, according to the ANP news agency. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced that Britain also wants to support Kiev with experts to investigate war crimes.

The Netherlands has built up significant forensic expertise, particularly through its investigation into the 2014 crash of passenger flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine. Hoekstra said border police could also investigate in the suburb of Bucha, where dozens of civilian deaths.

British intelligence is applied

The British government also wants to support Kiev with experts to investigate war crimes. The announcement was made by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss during a visit to The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday. Specialists must therefore travel to Poland in early May. It is about securing a wide range of evidence of atrocities and sexual violence against women, such as testimonies, forensic evidence and recordings, Truss told reporters in The Hague.

She added: “We will also use British intelligence to help show the connection between what is happening on the front lines and the Russian leadership.” It is important that everyone in the chain of command is held accountable.