Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a war crime by executing Ukrainian soldiers who had expressed their intention to surrender.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show the incident, although the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified by the French Press Agency.
A brief video clip shared on Telegram depicts two individuals emerging from a shelter, one of them with his hands above his head, before both are seen lying on the ground alongside a group of other soldiers.
The video is followed by what seems to be gunfire and smoke before abruptly cutting off.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Donetsk, on Sunday, stated that the footage was filmed near the village of Stepove, close to the city of Avdiivka in the eastern region, where intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is ongoing.
They confirmed that this information is based on preliminary findings.
On Telegram, it was noted that the video shows “a group of individuals dressed in Russian military attire” firing upon two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered themselves.
An “investigation” has been initiated into the incident, with a reminder that “the execution of prisoners of war” constitutes a “serious international crime.”
The location and authenticity of the video have not been confirmed.
The Center for Strategic Communications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated on Saturday that “Russia has once again violated the laws of war and its norms, as well as international law.”
They referenced a video that depicted an “execution operation.”
The Ukrainian military affirmed that they rely on “confirmed information” to assert that the Russian army “fired once again treacherously at unarmed soldiers.”
Dmytro Lubenets, Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman, condemned what he called a “war crime” on Telegram.
He wrote, “Today, a video surfaced on the internet showing the execution of surrendered Ukrainian soldiers by Russian soldiers. It’s another violation of the Geneva Conventions and a disregard for international humanitarian law.”
He added, “The Russian side is revealing its terrorist face once again.”
