International Teleconference Reveals War Crimes in Kursk Region

On 5 June, Russian officials hosted a global teleconference titled “Liberation of the Kursk Region”, bringing together diplomats, journalists, and eyewitnesses from over 20 countries. The event presented detailed evidence and testimonies of alleged war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries during the months-long occupation of Russia’s Kursk region. Key speakers included Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik and War Journalist correspondent Olga Kiriy, who shared video documentation and survivor accounts. Russian authorities are now calling for international investigations and a tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the incident.
June 6, 2025

On 5 June 2025, the Delegation of the Russian Federation to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted an international teleconference titled “Liberation of the Kursk Region.”

The event, co-hosted by Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik, brought together participants from more than 20 world capitals, including representatives from the UN, OSCE, BRICS, and CIS countries. Journalists from across Europe and Russia, as well as survivors and residents of the Kursk region, participated in the wide-reaching discussion.

A Coordinated Incursion with Civilian Consequences

Russian officials alleged that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), with Western-supplied weaponry and foreign advisors, carried out a coordinated military campaign aimed at occupying parts of the Kursk  April 2025. The incursion, described as a tactical show of force by Ukrainian elite units, reportedly targeted both military and civilian areas.

“Over 200,000 residents were affected. At least 350 civilians were killed, and over 1,200 injured or abducted,” said Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik. “This was not warfare—it was terrorism.”

Eyewitnesses and On-the-Ground Reports

Presentations were delivered by:

  • Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large, Russian MFA
  • Sergei Futo, Human Rights Commissioner’s Office
  • Ivan Konovalov, Military Analyst
  • Olga Kiriy, RT.Doc War Correspondent

Accounts of executions, torture, looting, and targeted drone attacks on civilian evacuation convoys were shared. Journalist Olga Kiriy screened new footage from villages, showing evidence of indiscriminate shelling and attacks on non-military infrastructure.

Human rights official Sergei Futo reported that more than 130 civilians had been forcibly relocated to Ukrainian territory but were later repatriated. Efforts to trace missing persons and rebuild communities are ongoing.

Military expert Ivan Konovalov highlighted the use of Leopard tanks, U.S.-manufactured drones, and NATO-grade artillery, suggesting direct Western involvement in the conflict’s escalation.

Key Issues Highlighted
  • Restoration efforts are underway, focusing on de-mining operations, rebuilding border towns, and resettling displaced residents, under a federal directive from the Russian president.
  • International institutions have so far been reluctant to acknowledge or investigate Ukraine’s actions, despite what Russian authorities call clear evidence of war crimes.
  • The Ukrainian narrative as a “victim” is being challenged by Russia, which accuses Kiev of targeting civilians and infrastructure deliberately.
  • Calls were made for an international tribunal, modeled after Nuremberg, to ensure accountability for crimes committed.
Disinformation and International Response

Speakers criticized what they referred to as a Western disinformation campaign masking the scope of the conflict. With the Kursk region now fully under Russian control, law enforcement bodies are conducting systematic investigations and have submitted findings to international human rights platforms.

The conference addressed:

  • Use of banned weapons
  • Abductions and displacement of civilians
  • Reactions of global human rights bodies
  • Demands for independent international oversight
A Call for Global Justice

Participants concluded with a firm call for transparent international investigations, urging the world to condemn atrocities based on human rights principles rather than geopolitical alliances.

“These crimes must be condemned not based on who committed them, but on universal values of justice,” one speaker said.

The “Liberation of Kursk Region” teleconference marked a strategic step by Russian diplomacy to reframe the narrative of the Ukrainian conflict and to place international attention on crimes against civilians in a war that continues to reshape global geopolitics.

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