The Russian army decided to turn east after failing to occupy the capital Kiev in the midst of fierce Ukrainian resistance. However, Russia’s history of committing “atrocities” and launching “horrific attacks” since its invasion of Crimea eight years ago suggests that a brutal attack is imminent, Markarova said. “Yes, the enemy – the Russians – are discouraged,” he said. “They are war criminals, but there are so many of them and they still have so much equipment. And it looks like they will use it all. So we are preparing for everything.” Ukraine is trying to evacuate as many civilians as possible from the eastern region, while coordinating further assistance from the US and other Western nations. “I think there is an understanding that after the battle of Kiev, we really have to win this battle of Donbass and we have to win this war,” Markarova said. “And we need all the equipment – all the firepower, all the anti-aircraft equipment [equipment] – so that I can do it “. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said earlier Sunday that the United States was considering moving additional weapons to Ukraine and training its forces to use specific equipment. Sullivan and Markarova declined to give details, with the ambassador saying she would prefer to “surprise the Russians on the battlefield.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its seventh week, has become increasingly bloody, with CBS News finding evidence of atrocities on the outskirts of Kiev following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region. During a visit to Bucha City earlier this month, CBS News correspondent Debora Patta and her team saw mass graves filled with nearly 300 corpses, civilians shot in the head with their hands tied and other horrific scenes. The US Department of Justice has said it is working with the Ukrainian government to investigate alleged Russian war crimes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has accused Moscow of genocide, has urged the international community to expel all those behind the attacks. In an interview with “60 Minutes” on Sunday, Zelensky said that Ukraine has Russians in custody who have shared information about war crimes in Ukraine. Russia has falsely claimed that the Bucha massacre was organized and has denied responsibility for a rocket attack that killed dozens of civilians at a train station last week. Markarova said she hoped a possible international tribunal would bring to justice high-ranking soldiers, as well as Russian military leaders and President Vladimir Putin. “I know lawyers have to say ‘supposed’. I can say “war crimes” because we see them. “We are seeing them in real time,” he said, adding that Ukrainian prosecutors had opened more than 4,000 individual criminal cases since the start of the war. “Well, yes, all of them will be prosecuted – military commanders, personnel, people who did it on the ground and people who ordered it up to Putin,” Markarova said. “There should be no place on Earth where they could hide. Yes, we would like to be tried in Ukraine and we really hope that once we win and after Ukraine is liberated, we will have a court,” he continued. “I think Ukraine and our people have a right to a full-fledged court. But wherever they can be prosecuted, it’s okay.” More
