Shocking drone video appears to show “the moment Russian troops committed the mass execution of 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war.”
It is the largest known massacre of its kind during the brutal conflict that lasts more than two and a half years, if verified.
Ukraine alleges that the images show that the soldiers are acting in accordance with a murderous policy of the Putin regime that authorizes the murder of prisoners of war.
The 16 surrendered soldiers are seen emerging from a Russian-held forest near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
The prisoners of war line up in formation in an open space and then four of Vladimir Putin’s troops appear to open fire on them.
Dmytro Lubinets, human rights commissioner for the Ukrainian parliament, said he sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross about the apparent massacre.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said an investigation has been launched into another war crime committed by the Russian military.
The 16 surrendered soldiers are seen emerging from a Russian-held forest near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Those still showing signs of life were “finished off” at close range with automatic weapons, the Ukrainians claimed.
The Russians then run back to the forest plantation, which appears covered in fog or smoke.
“An investigation has been launched into another war crime committed by the Russian military,” said Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin.
‘This is the most massive known case of execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war at the front.
“It is further proof that the murders and torture of prisoners are not an accident, but a determined policy of the Russian military and political leaders.”
Ukraine’s SBU security service is working to “verify” the images that appeared on Telegram channels.
“Investigative and search activities have been initiated to determine all the circumstances of the crime in question,” Kostin said.
The execution of prisoners of war is a “cynical and flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions.”
Dmytro Lubinets, human rights commissioner for the Ukrainian parliament, said he had already sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross about the apparent massacre.
“Systematic crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war must stop and those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.
A succession of videos has highlighted the alleged killing of surrendering Ukrainian troops.
“This inhumane country has once again violated international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, resorting to new scales of executions of prisoners of war,” Lubinets said.
The prisoners of war line up in formation in an open space and then four of Vladimir Putin’s troops appear to open fire on them.
Ukrainian soldiers who still showed signs of life were “finished off” at close range with automatic weapons, the Ukrainians claimed.
The Russians then run back to the forest plantation, which appears covered in fog or smoke.
