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Ukraine has launched an investigation into the alleged execution of its unarmed soldiers by Russian forces, an act it deems a war crime.
This follows the emergence of a video showing two Ukrainian soldiers, one with hands raised, being shot by individuals in Russian uniforms. The footage was posted on Telegram and has sparked significant outcry.
The public prosecutor’s office in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, where the incident reportedly occurred, confirmed the investigation. They stated that the video shows the shooting of unarmed servicemen by Russian forces, describing it as a “gross violation of the Geneva Conventions” and a serious international crime.
Preliminary data suggests the video was filmed near the village of Stepove, close to Avdiivka, an area of intense fighting. The Ukrainian army’s strategic communications center also confirmed the video, calling it an “execution” of unarmed soldiers.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, condemned the event as a war crime, emphasizing the violation of international humanitarian law. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, accused Russian forces of breaching the rules of war. Ukrainian officials have called for the international community to hold Russia’s military leadership accountable.
At the moment, there has been no official response from Moscow regarding this specific incident.
These accusations are part of a series of alleged war crimes by Russian forces since the invasion of Ukraine began. In March, a video showing the execution of a Ukrainian soldier after shouting “Glory to Ukraine” also drew widespread condemnation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, noted at the time that his office had documented numerous violations of international humanitarian law against prisoners of war.
