Ukrainian investigators probe Russian killings in Bucha

Ukrainian detective Iván Dulkay is leading a team of 12 investigators to uncover the details of the killings of more than 300 civilians during the Russian occupation of Bucha in early 2022. The investigation aims to identify the Russian military personnel responsible and trace the chain of command to determine who ordered the attacks.

To date, the team has clarified 86 murders and brought charges against 32 Russian soldiers for homicide and torture. The process involves interviewing hundreds of witnesses, reviewing intercepted communications and video footage, and conducting forensic examinations through body exhumations.

Specific cases include the identification of Russian sniper Artyom Dementiev in the murder of Volodymyr Kovtun, and the tracking of a reconnaissance platoon led by Lieutenant Artyom Tareyev, which is linked to at least 22 murders. While Ukraine has filed war crimes charges against Tareyev, the investigation faces significant hurdles due to the distance of the suspects and the difficulty of bringing them to justice. Russia continues to deny that a massacre occurred in Bucha.