war in Ukraine
Zelenskyj calls for worldwide reactions to the beheading video
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on video of an alleged beheading of a Ukrainian soldier. photo
© Michal Dyjuk/AP/dpa
A video is increasingly being shared on social media that is said to show the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier. Now the Ukrainian President is reacting and appealing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the world to react to a released video of the alleged beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. “This is a video of Russia as it is,” emphasized the head of state in a video message. It was neither an accident nor an isolated case. Terror must lose. No one would understand if leaders didn’t respond to the video. “We must act now!” demanded the 45-year-old.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainians must concentrate on the front and drive the occupiers out of the country. “The crushing of the occupier, sentences for the murderers and a tribunal for the evil state,” according to Zelenskyj, are the main tasks now.
On Wednesday night, a video appeared on social networks in which a Russian soldier allegedly beheaded a Ukrainian prisoner of war who was still alive. Due to the green leaves on the trees in the background of the video, it can be assumed that it was recorded last year. The Ukrainian secret service has started investigations into this. “We will find these monsters. If necessary, we will find them wherever they are: underground or from the afterlife,” promised SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk.
Kiev’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Russia “worse” than the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) in view of the beheading video. He called for Russia’s expulsion from the United Nations.
Kremlin questions authenticity of beheading video
The Kremlin has questioned the authenticity of the video showing the alleged beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. “First of all, we live in a world of fakes and therefore have to check the authenticity of the recordings,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, according to the Interfax news agency. After the video became known, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of war crimes and called for worldwide reactions.
These are “terrible pictures,” Peskow admitted. But first it must be determined whether the beheading actually took place. Then it should be checked by which side the crime was committed, he said.
Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for over 13 months with Western help. The United Nations recently accused both warring parties of serious war crimes such as the execution of prisoners of war.