MOSCOW, June 18. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated criminal proceedings against Ihor Kolomoyskyi, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, and Ukraine’s parliament-appointed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on charges of masterminding murders, application of forbidden methods and means of warfare and abduction of people.

Vladimir Markin, a spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee, told ITAR-TASS on Wednesday that Avakov, Kolomoyskyi and the leadership of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry had launched an army operation against civilians in southeast Ukraine with the use of the Grad multiple rocket launchers; cluster aviation missiles and heavy weapons. As a result, more than a hundred civilians, including Russian nationals, were killed; over 200 people were injured; 500 houses were destroyed and more than 50,000 people were forced to flee to Russia. Avakov and Kolomoyskyi are also accused of kidnapping Russian journalists working for the Zvezda television channel.

The Russian Investigative Committee wants to put Avakov and Kolomoyskyi on the international police wanted list for crimes committed against peace and humanity.