Ukraine will launch a "Book of Executioners" to collate evidence of war crimes Kyiv says were committed during Russia's occupation.
Ukrainian prosecutors say they have registered more than 12,000 alleged war crimes involving more than 600 suspects since the Kremlin started its offensive on February 24.
"Next week, a special publication is to be launched — The Book of Executioners — an information system to collect confirmation of data about war criminals, criminals from the Russian army," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address.
Mr Zelenskyy said this would be a key element in his longstanding pledge to bring to account Russian servicemen who have committed what Ukrainian authorities have described as murders, rape and looting.
He cited the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where investigators found what they say is evidence of mass executions.
Russia says it has gone out of its way to avoid targeting civilians in its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Russian officials have specifically dismissed pictures of events in Bucha as "fabrications" staged by Ukrainian authorities after Russian forces left the town at the end of March.
Life sentence in first war crimes trial
Last month, a Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia's invasion.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, a tank commander, pleaded guilty to killing 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the north-eastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on February 28 after being ordered to shoot at him from a car.
Judge Serhiy Agafonov said Shishimarin, carrying out a "criminal order" by a soldier of higher rank, had fired several shots at the victim's head from an automatic weapon.
"The court has decided: Shishimarin Vadim Evgenyevich … is found guilty … and sentenced him to life imprisonment," he said.
"Given that the crime committed is a crime against peace, security, humanity and the international legal order … the court does not see the possibility of imposing a [shorter] sentence of imprisonment on Shishimarin for a certain period."
International effort to prove Russian war crimes
The US is also tracking and sharing reports about alleged war crimes
US President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a war criminal" for attacking Ukraine, which Russia's foreign ministry said was a statement "unworthy of a statesman of such high rank".
US Undersecretary of State Uzra Zeya told a UN Security Council meeting last week on strengthening accountability and justice for serious violations of international law that in nearly 100 days, the world had seen Russian forces bomb maternity hospitals, train stations, apartment buildings and homes and even kill civilians cycling down the street.
Ms Zeya said the United States was working with its allies to support a broad range of international investigations into atrocities in Ukraine.
Ireland's Attorney-General Paul Gallagher welcomed efforts over the last three months to support calls for justice in Ukraine, saying Ireland was one of 41 countries that quickly referred the situation in the country to the International Criminal Court.
Gallagher said the ICC has deployed a team of 42 investigators, forensics experts and support staff to investigate Russian crimes and support Ukrainian efforts.
Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Western nations of "hypocrisy" for suddenly seeking international criminal justice over what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Reuters/AP/ABC
