[１８日 ロイター] – Russia’s Defense Ministry on Monday accused Ukraine of executing more than 10 Russian POWs, accusing it of committing war crimes and ignoring them from the West.
The defense ministry cited a video posted on Russian social media showing the execution of a Russian prisoner of war. “The brutal killing of Russian servicemen is neither the first nor the only war crime. It is a common practice of the Ukrainian military, actively supported by the Ukrainian regime and blatantly ignored by the West,” he said.
Reuters was unable to verify the video or the Defense Ministry’s claims at this time. No response has been received from Ukraine.
The video shows what appear to be Russian soldiers surrendering to gunmen in yellow armbands in Makievka, Lugansk region of eastern Ukraine, before shots are heard and around a dozen bodies are shown. It is not known when the video was filmed or who made it.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the video showed the “deliberate and systematic killing by corrupt Ukrainian soldiers of more than 10 detained Russian servicemen” and the “brutal nature” of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian regime.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said it was investigating the execution of “at least 11 unarmed Russian soldiers” and was identifying the person who filmed the video.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said the video was “further evidence of Ukrainian neo-Nazi crimes and clear violations by Ukraine of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions,” adding that international organizations they will look into and have requested an investigation.
Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, released a statement saying: “We are aware of the existence of the video and are investigating. The alleged summary execution of ‘incompetent persons’ was quickly and fully resolved We should investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
