Shortly after capture
Ukraine accuses Russia of killing 16 prisoners of war
October 2, 2024, 12:34 a.m
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Ukraine accuses Russia of numerous atrocities. According to Kiev, a video that has recently emerged is intended to document war crimes committed by Kremlin soldiers. According to this, 16 Ukrainian soldiers surrender to Russian fighters, but are executed by them.
Based on a video, the Ukrainian justice system suspects the murder of 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian army. The Prosecutor General’s Office in Kyiv spoke of a suspected war crime. She said a video appeared on Telegram channels. It was allegedly taken at the front near the embattled city of Pokrovsk. Russian forces have been advancing in the region for some time.
“The video shows the captured Ukrainian soldiers coming out of a forest under enemy control,” the statement said. “After they lined up, the occupiers deliberately opened fire on them. The wounded, who still showed signs of life, were killed at close range with an automatic weapon.”
There were no other sources on this process. The material is being examined, the judiciary said. If the case proves true, according to Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, it would be the worst case of killing Ukrainian prisoners of war at the front.
According to a recent UN report, soldiers from both sides are at the highest risk of being mistreated or killed at the moment of capture. After that, Ukraine would treat the Russian prisoners of war in accordance with international law. Former Ukrainian prisoners, however, reported ongoing mistreatment and torture in Russia.