A team from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has left for Ukraine to start investigating possible war crimes, its top prosecutor has said.

Hours before their departure on Thursday, Prosecutor Karim Khan said he would start collecting evidence as part of a formal investigation launched after Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.

“Yesterday I formulated a team and today they are moving to the region,” Mr Khan told Reuters.

“It’s an advanced team, comprised of investigators, lawyers, but also those with particular experience in operational planning.”

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Neither Russia nor Ukraine are members of the ICC and Moscow does not recognise the court.

In 2014, Ukraine signed a declaration, giving the court jurisdiction over alleged grave crimes committed in the country.

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The ICC has 123 members and prosecutes individuals responsible for the worst atrocities when a country is unable or unwilling to do so.

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• Ukraine minister claims Russia could be about to attack itself in ‘false flag’ operation

“The law of war continues to apply and we have clear jurisdiction,” Mr Khan said. “This is a reminder to all factions, to all parties to the conflict, that they must conduct themselves in compliance with the laws of war.”

Asked about attacks with cluster bombs and artillery strikes in Ukraine’s towns and cities, Mr Khan said: “Any side that targets, directly targets, civilians or civilian objects is committing a crime under the Rome Statute and under international humanitarian law. That much is clear.”

Read more: Could Putin stand trial for war crimes and what punishment could he face?

The ICC’s investigation will look at evidence from 2014 when Russia seized the Crimea region and began providing armed support to separatists in the Donbas region.

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If war crimes are found to have been committed in Ukraine, Mr Khan said, his office would follow the evidence up the chain of command, to the highest levels of political and military officials.

“Anybody involved in conflict needs to realise they don’t have a licence to commit crimes,” he said.

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