Merrick Garland joins four other attorneys general in calling for prosecutions of Russian war crimes

• Five attorneys general from across the globe issued a statement supporting Ukraine's prosecutor general.
• The generals condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and promised war crimes investigations.

Attorney General Merrick Garland joined an international cohort of attorneys general issuing their support for the Ukrainian prosecutor general investigating Russian war crimes.

"The Attorneys General of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand join in support of Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, her Office, and the Ukrainian people in ensuring accountability for war crimes committed during the Russian invasion," the generals said in a statement.

Russia has been accused of committing numerous human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine since its February invasion. The United Nations human rights office called Russia's war against Ukraine a "horror story of violations" against civilians, Insider's Natalie Musumeci reported.

In early May, Prosecutor General Venediktova said Russia had committed over 9,800 war crimes since the beginning of the invasion.

In the joint statement supporting Venediktova, Garland was joined by the United Kingdom's Suella Braverman; Australia's Michaelia Cash; Canada's David Lametti; and New Zealand's David Parker.

The generals said they support investigations by Ukraine and other international bodies, like the United Nations and International Criminal Court, to "ensure prompt, fair and effective investigation and prosecution of such offences under Ukrainian, domestic or international law."

"We join in condemning the Russian Government for its actions, and call upon it to cease all violations of international law, to halt its illegal invasion and to cooperate in efforts to achieve accountability," the statement continued. "We look forward to working together with the Prosecutor General and her Office to ensure every perpetrator faces justice."