Ukrainian President Calls For Just Punishment Of Russia For War Crimes

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the United Nations to form a special war tribunal and detailed the alleged war crimes of Russia.

Aside from this, the Ukraine leader also proposed a formula that included more military to punish Russia on the world stage. This came not long after Russian leader Vladimir Putin called on 300,000 military reservists for duty.

Putin’s move was seen as an act of desperation and drew protests from several Russian cities.

Also, Zelensky added that the fact that Putin wanted partial mobilization of these military reservists clearly showed that the Russian leader was not serious about holding peace talks.

So far, about 1,315 Russians have been arrested according to the monitoring group OVD-Info.

It was also added that those called up would be limited to the ones who have completed military service and important skills. Worse, the protesters who were arrested would allegedly need to sign up.

Zelensky explained that creating a special war tribunal would help hold Moscow to account for stealing territory and murdering thousands of people. His address on Wednesday received a standing ovation from many of the session's attendees.

Despite Russia’s moves to beef up its military, there was also the biggest exchange of prisoners since the war started earlier this year. The deal was brokered by Saudi Arabia.

The exchange included 215 fighters returned to the Ukrainian side as well as 10 foreigners. Russia, on the other hand, took back 55 soldiers.

Battalion commander Denys Prokopenko and his deputy were among five senior officers freed. There was also Ukrainian military medic Mariana Mamonova, who is more than eight months pregnant and was being held in the notorious Olenivka prison in an area of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists, BBC reported.

Pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvechuk was also part of the swap. He has been seen as President Putin's closest ally in Ukraine and faced treason charges.

Ukraine added that among those released were 108 members of the Azov battalion who for weeks defied Russia's bombardment of Mariupol and the city's steel plant.