Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met soldiers wounded in Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine and hailed them as heroes, in the first such visit since he sent troops into the pro-Western country.

Wearing a white medical coat, Putin chatted to soldiers at Moscow's Mandryka military hospital, Rossiya-24 television channel showed.

After meeting the wounded men, Putin said at a televised meeting with government officials: "These are people who are risking their health and lives for the sake of the people and children of Donbas, for the sake of Russia. They are all heroes."

Russia said on March 25 that 1,351 soldiers had been killed and 3,825 wounded in Ukraine. Authorities have not released any new figures since.

The wounded soldiers in pyjamas decorated with the Russian army logo stood stiffly by their beds to answer questions about their family.

Accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin shook hands with the men.

The president asked one soldier about his baby son, telling him: "He will be proud of his dad."

The president also asked doctors if they had everything they needed, receiving an affirmative answer.

Shoigu said Tuesday that Moscow was ready for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine in order to achieve the Kremlin's goals in the pro-Western country.

In Kharkiv's Gorky Park, a war crimes investigation
Kharkiv, Ukraine (AFP) May 25, 2022 - Ukrainian prosecutor Roman Petrenko inspects the remains of Russian rockets that fell on the popular Gorky Park in the country's second city Kharkiv.

Petrenko, a prosecutor from the city's Shevchenkivsky district, is wearing a gilet with "War Crimes. Kharkiv" written in large white letters.

Kharkiv's peaceful Gorky Park is full of winding alleys and has a small amusement park, with pavilions and a Ferris wheel. It is reputed to be one of the best parks in Ukraine.

Gorky Park was hit by around 50 shells in three months of war.

Prosecutors took up the case to ensure that the park could be open without the public being at risk and, above all, determine whether the attacks constitute a war crime.

Even if there were no victims, "hitting civilian targets, civilian infrastructure, trying to kill civilians and destroy cultural heritage, are considered war crimes", Petrenko said.

"An error can happen once or twice, but there are 56 hits recorded," he said.

"It's not an accident. They were targeting the park."

With a team of deminers, assistants, court officials and municipal workers, the prosecutor notes down each crater.

He has the ammunition dug up after an inspection by deminers, then photographs it, writes it down and determines the angle of fire and the origin of the weapon.

The shells also hit a small theatre and a closed restaurant in the park.

The shrapnel even reached and damaged bronze sculptures of children scattered around the park.

A duo of American deminers from the Bomb Techs Without Borders NGO advise their Ukrainian counterparts at the scene.

For John Culp, a retired US soldier, there was no doubt the Russians were targeting the park deliberately.

"We are in Gorky Park... With its paths, its stages etc... We are investigating the fact that many rockets and shells were fired in and near the park."

"There is no military target here. It was done knowingly to cause terror and fear among the civilian population," he said.

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In Kharkiv's Gorky Park, a war crimes investigation
Kharkiv, Ukraine (AFP) May 24, 2022
Ukrainian prosecutor Roman Petrenko inspects the remains of Russian rockets that fell on the popular Gorky Park in the country's second city Kharkiv. Petrenko, a prosecutor from the city's Shevchenkivsky district, is wearing a gilet with "War Crimes. Kharkiv" written in large white letters. Kharkiv's peaceful Gorky Park is full of winding alleys and has a small amusement park, with pavilions and a Ferris wheel. It is reputed to be one of the best parks in Ukraine. Gorky Park was hit by ar ... read more