Russia has charged 680 Ukrainian officials, including 118 members of the military and the Defense Ministry, with violating laws governing warfare, including using weapons against civilians, the TASS news agency reported Monday.

According to the report, citing the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Ukrainian officials were accused of “using prohibited means and methods of warfare” with reference to Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

“Currently, 680 people have been prosecuted,” Alexander Bastrykin said in an interview with the state news agency TASS.

“Among the defendants are 118 people from among the commander and leadership of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.”

Bastrykin, who reports directly to President Vladimir Putin, said the charges included the use of weapons against civilians. He added that 138 of them were accused in absentia.

According to the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office, the Ukrainian authorities have recorded more than 70,000 Russian war crimes since the beginning of the conflict. Ukraine has also opened a number of criminal cases against members of the Russian forces, including against the head of the Wagner mercenary group.

Both Ukraine and Russia deny attacks on civilians during the Russian invasion, which has left thousands dead, millions displaced and cities reduced to rubble.

Last week, the US government said it had officially concluded that Russia committed “crimes against humanity” in Ukraine, which Russia denies.

Source: Reuters.