The US on Wednesday filed war crimes charges against four members of the Russian military who are accused of abducting and torturing an American citizen living in Ukraine at the time of Moscow's invasion.
The four Russians are accused of kidnapping the American, who was living in the Ukrainian village of Mylove. He was tortured, interrogated, threatened with sexual assault and execution, participated in forced labour and faced mock executions while he was detained at a Russian compound for 10 days, the Justice Department said.
The victim was a civilian non-combatant at the time of his abduction.
"Again and again he believed he was going to die," Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a news conference.
The charges are the first time the Justice Department has charged anyone under the US war crimes statutes.
Suren Seiranovich Mkrtchyan, Dmitry Budnik, Valerii and Nazar (last names unknown) face charges including torture, inhuman treatment and unlawful confinement of a US citizen in Ukraine.
Two of the Russians charged in the indictment were commanding officers, while the other two were lower-ranking military personnel.
None of the four Russians reside in the US and it is unclear if they will ever face a judge as Washington and Moscow do not share an extradition treaty.
However, Mr Garland said the charges are an "important step towards accountability".
"We will not forget the atrocities in Ukraine. And we will never stop working to bring those responsible to justice," Mr Garland said.
Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas said during the briefing that the evidence uncovered during the US investigation "speaks to the brutality, criminality, and depravity of Russia’s invasion".
Wednesday's charges come as President Joe Biden's administration attempts to continue to show support for Kyiv despite struggling to elicit support from Congress to deliver more military assistance to Ukraine.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Racecard
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