"These referrals enable my office to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine from 21 November 2013 onwards, encompassing any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person," Prosecutor Karim Khan said in statement on Thursday.
The statement came after Khan announced two days earlier that he had "decided to proceed with opening an investigation.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Poland's Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told reporters in Warsaw this week that he had "ordered Poland's prosecution service to open an investigation into the crime of aggressive war" against Ukraine.
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau told the United Nations on Wednesday that Russia's authorities were showing contempt for human rights in their assault on Ukraine and its people.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to reprimand Russia for invading Poland's eastern neighbour and demanded that Moscow stop fighting and withdraw its forces from Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.
The resolution deplores Russia's "aggression against Ukraine." It was supported by 141 of the assembly's 193 members.
Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted against the resolution. Thirty-five members, including China, abstained, Reuters reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters