You're reading: Russia frees Ukrainian officers detained earlier on suspicion of war crimes

Five Ukrainian officers detained earlier in Russia on suspicion of using prohibited means and methods of warfare in the east of Ukraine will not be prosecuted and will be allowed to return home, Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

“It turned out in the course of an investigation that 72nd brigade of
the Ukrainian armed forces servicemen Ivan Voitenko and four of his
subordinates were obeying orders from their superiors and did not commit
crimes against civilians in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine,”
Markin told Interfax on Saturday.

“Following the principle of humanity, it has been decided not to
indict them and provide them with the opportunity to return to the
Ukrainian territory,” Markin said.