Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of committing “a war crime” as he spoke during a session of PMQs preceded by a standing ovation for Ukraine’s ambassador.
As the Russian president’s attempt to invade Ukraine entered a seventh day, the prime minister condemned Mr Putin’s “abhorrent” attack on his country’s neighbour.
“What we have seen already from Vladimir Putin’s regime – in the use of munitions they have already been dropping on innocent civilians – in my view already fully qualifies as a war crime,” Mr Johnson told the House of Commons.
“I know the ICC [International Criminal Court] prosecutor is already investigating and I’m sure the whole House will support that.”
PM condemns Putin’s ‘abhorrent assault’
In an intelligence update on Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Defence said heavy Russian artillery and airstrikes had continued to target built-up areas in the past 24 hours.
More than 2,000 civilians have so far died in a week of war with Russia, according to Ukraine’s state emergency service – although Sky News has not yet verified this information independently.
There are other unconfirmed claims of Russia using thermobaric weapons and widely-banned cluster munitions.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace earlier told Sky News that Mr Putin’s actions would get “harder, tougher and more indiscriminate” as his invasion attempt lags “considerably” behind schedule.
Mr Johnson told MPs that the Russian president had “gravely miscalculated” in his “abhorrent assault on a sovereign nation”.
“He has underestimated the extraordinary fortitude of the Ukrainian people and the unity and resolve of the free world in standing up to his barbarism,” the PM told the Commons.
MPs stand to applaud Ukraine’s ambassador
At the beginning of Wednesday’s PMQs, the entire Commons chamber stood to applaud Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, as he sat in the…
Source : skynews
