A short online video clip shows Russian military personnel murdering a Ukrainian prisoner of war in cold blood. Possibly one of hundreds of war crimes committed by the invaders. President Selenskyj promises to find the perpetrators.
It's extremely hard stuff, showing the full cruelty and reality of Russia's war of aggression. A video showing the killing of a prisoner of war by Russian military personnel is currently making waves on the Ukrainian side on social networks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reacted to this. However, the authenticity cannot be verified. The Ukrainian Attorney General Andriy Kostin wants to investigate the recordings, as he announced on Telegram. They may be evidence of a war crime.
The short clip shows the man standing in a small ditch in a section of forest and smoking a cigarette. With the camera trained on him, the Ukrainian soldier blows out smoke and says the words "Slava Ukraini," which means "Glory to Ukraine." A slogan that has often been used, especially since the attack by Russia, to express solidarity with the homeland and contempt for the Russian occupiers. After the Ukrainian soldier says the words, fire is immediately opened on him. Several bullets puncture the man, he falls to the ground. After that, some more insults from the Russian fighters can be heard, then the clip ends.
On the Ukrainian side, the murdered soldier is celebrated as a hero. President Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: "Today a video surfaced showing the occupiers brutally killing a soldier who bravely said to them: 'Glory to Ukraine!' I want us all to react together and united to his words: 'Glory to the hero! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Ukraine!' And we will find the killers."
A Russian pilot was recently sentenced to 12 years in prison for war crimes in Ukraine. Among other things, it has been proven that the man had bombed the area of the Kharkiv television tower almost a year ago, according to the prosecutor. He was arrested by the National Guard after his plane was shot down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns.
The murder of prisoners of war is a violation of the Geneva Convention. Article 13 states: "Prisoners of war shall at all times be treated humanely. Any tortious act or omission on the part of the Detaining Power which results in the death or serious danger to the health of any person in their prisoners of war in custody is prohibited and shall be considered a serious violation of this Convention."
The Russian military is said to have committed numerous other war crimes since attacking Ukraine, including indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure such as homes and energy supplies. The news agencies "Associated Press" and "Frontline" documented 653 cases of possible war crimes in the first year of the invasion. The number of unreported cases is said to be much higher.
The cabinet in Kiev on Saturday approved an agreement reached with the International Criminal Court (ICC) that will allow for the early opening of an office of the ICC prosecutor's office in Ukraine. This is intended to facilitate investigations into such war crimes. However, Russia does not recognize the International Criminal Court, which is why it cannot hold Russians accountable. Kiev is therefore pushing for an international special tribunal to hold those responsible accountable.
