At least 621 civilians from Russia have lost their lives due to Ukrainian strikes since Moscow’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, according to Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, who made this statement on Monday.
“The regime in Kyiv routinely launches assaults on Russian territories using NATO missiles. This results in the destruction of civilian facilities and tragic loss of life among civilians,” Bastrykin noted during an event in St. Petersburg.
Among the casualties are 38 children, and he reported that 3,217 individuals have suffered injuries.
The Investigative Committee, which focuses on significant criminal offenses, has initiated over 3,000 probes into cross-border attacks from Ukraine, Bastrykin stated.
“Most of these strikes have occurred in the regions of Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk, Rostov, and Krasnodar, as well as in the annexed territories of Crimea and Sevastopol,” he further explained.
Additionally, Bastrykin mentioned that close to 550 Ukrainian soldiers and foreign mercenaries have received long prison sentences.
In contrast, estimates from the United Nations indicate that more than 13,100 Ukrainian civilians have died since President Vladimir Putin launched the large-scale invasion in February 2022.
