A former British civil servant is at the centre of a major war crimes investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police after he filmed and shared a grotesque video involving the remains of deceased Ukrainian soldiers.
Disturbing Video and Mockery of the Dead
Graham Phillips, a 46-year-old from the UK now living in Russian-occupied Mariupol, is accused of recording footage in which pigs are seen consuming the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. In the sickening clip, which dates back to 2022, a Russian soldier picks up a Ukrainian soldier's identification, after which Phillips is heard asking, "Is Yuri tasty?" He callously continued to narrate, describing the scene as a "buffet" and commenting that the animals were "munching, munching and munching."
Brazen Response and Ongoing Police Investigation
Following widespread media coverage of his alleged actions, Phillips responded with shocking defiance. On his Telegram channel, which boasts 18,000 followers, he shared images of the newspaper reports and bragged, "Friends in the UK, hang onto your copies and I'll sign them for you when I return to be Prime Minister." This is not his first gloating over the incident; he has previously defended his actions, telling The Sun that the Ukrainian soldiers "ended up becoming pig fodder."
A spokesperson for the Met Police's War Crimes Team confirmed that an investigation into Phillips was launched in 2022 and that officers are now "liaising" with the Crown Prosecution Service. The probe is reportedly examining multiple potential breaches of the Geneva Convention, specifically Article 34, which mandates respect for the remains of those who have died during hostilities.
International Condemnation and Sanctions
The case has drawn sharp international criticism. Ukrainian politician Oleksiy Goncharenko labelled Phillips a "propagandist" and a "war criminal," praising UK authorities for taking action. Phillips, who is already subject to UK government sanctions, has also recently criticised Donald Trump's proposed peace plans for Ukraine, vehemently stating that the Donbas region is "Russia, forever." The investigation continues as authorities seek to hold him accountable for his alleged crimes.
