Ukraine has launched an investigation into a video allegedly showing Russian soldiers shooting two Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered on Saturday, the 2nd of November. Ukrainian prosecutors say the video shows persons in Russian uniforms firing at close range at unarmed Ukrainian soldiers, calling it a “grave” breach of the laws of war, according to the British BBC.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating the Geneva Conventions – international humanitarian law governing armed conflict, including the treatment of prisoners of war.
On the 2nd of December, the Ukrainian Telegram channel DeepStateUA published a video claiming that soldiers were shot dead near Stepove after Russian troops had seized the positions of the Ukrainian 45th Rifle Battalion
as Ukrainian soldiers surrendered after running out of ammunition.
The video shows an alleged Ukrainian soldier surrendering, emerging from the trenches holding his hands on his head, lying on the ground, another soldier emerging from the trenches, also unarmed, and both being shot by Russian soldiers.
Russian soldiers shot two unarmed Ukrainian POWs that surrendered near Stepove. The Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly left without ammunition and had to surrender, once the second soldier came out, they decided to shoot them both.
Never forget what Ukraine is fighting against. pic.twitter.com/x53IuF6sSY
— NOELREPORTS ?? ?? (@NOELreports) December 2, 2023
The authenticity of the video footage has not been independently verified.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a pre-trial investigation “for violation of the laws of war combined with premeditated murder”. The statement said the killing of the prisoners of war qualified as a “grave international crime”, noting that the incident took place near the village of Stepove in the Donetsk region, without giving details on who took the video or the date of the incident, according to the BBC.
The Ukrainian armed forces have called on the international community to condemn Russia’s actions and to hold the military leadership responsible for the crime of war.
The Russian Armed Forces have not yet publicly responded to these accusations.
On Saturday, Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Kolym claimed that the Ukrainians killed were from his unit. For his part, the head of the Avdiivka military administration, Vitaly Barabash, said on Sunday that those responsible for the shootings were later “eliminated” in a Ukrainian attack. None of them has provided evidence to back the claims.
In March, Ukraine accused Russian soldiers of killing an unarmed Ukrainian soldier. In the video, the Ukrainian soldier smoked a cigarette and shouted “Glory to Ukraine” before being shot. Last year, Russia accused Ukrainian forces of killing a group of Russian prisoners of war. The soldiers were seen on video surrendering and being shot. A Ukrainian official had claimed that the Russian soldiers had “staged” the surrender because they were trying to attack, writes the BBC.
Read also: Putin: the “tragedy” of war in Ukraine must be stopped
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