Russian soldiers executed a Ukrainian prisoner of war with a medieval-style sword in revenge for the Kursk raid, kyiv says.
Sickening images appear to show an unarmed Ukrainian soldier lying in a pool of blood after being stabbed with a primitive weapon by his Russian captors.
“The level of barbarism and bloodlust is beyond comprehension,” said Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian parliament’s human rights commissioner.
The sword is seen embedded in the torso of the Ukrainian fighter, whose hands have been bound with tape, with his body evidently left outside as a macabre warning.
The words “For Kursk” are written on the weapon, a reference to Ukraine’s surprise incursion into the border region with Russia that has humiliated Vladimir Putin.
Censored image shows sword stuck in Ukrainian soldier’s body
Lubinets reported the alleged evidence of war crimes to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
“Another war crime: the Russians executed an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war with a sword and with his hands taped with adhesive tape,” the Ombudsman said.
‘These actions constitute a serious violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war.
How long will the world continue to watch as Russia openly demonstrates its disregard for all norms and laws?
He added: “I would like to point out separately that these demonstration executions are aimed at demoralising Ukrainian society.
The words “For Kursk” are written on the weapon, a reference to Ukraine’s surprise incursion into the region bordering Russia.
“However, seeing such actions, we must be even more determined in fighting the aggressor.”
Some reports indicate that the heinous murder took place in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, in or around Novogrodivka. The sword appears to be ceremonial or decorative.
Ukrainian channel Andryushchenko Time reported: “The Russians executed our prisoner in a particularly cynical way.
‘Judging by the amount of blood, the sword was stuck in the fighter, who was still alive. Adhesive tape is visible on the wrists.’
The report promised: “All Russian criminals will be punished… Do not forget and do not forgive. Anger. Simply anger.”
Meanwhile, some Russian channels have openly approved this barbarity.
Spetskurs, a Russian pro-war activist who runs paramilitary camps for children, said: “Well deserved.”
Ukrainian soldiers have captured a large number of prisoners during their raid on Kursk.
Russian tanks fire at Ukrainian military positions in the Kursk region of Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry released the footage on September 10.
St. Petersburg-based hardliner Rosich declared: “Whoever comes to us with a sword will perish by the sword.”
Although the weapon used in the killings is particularly barbaric, these horrific murders have become a disturbing feature of war.
Last month, a Russian fighter boasted that his battalion had “blown the heads off” Ukrainian soldiers.
A grim video shows the soldier allegedly posing with a severed head impaled on a pole.
kyiv authorities have denounced the footage as a war crime to the UN and it appears it was taken at a Russian border crossing in the Belgorod region.
Dmytro Lubinets informed the United Nations about alleged evidence of war crimes
Also in August, a suspected Ukrainian prisoner of war was photographed with his head, arms and legs dismembered. Videos have shown executions of unarmed and bound prisoners of war.
In June, the severed head of a Ukrainian defender was allegedly placed in a war-damaged armored vehicle by Russian invaders.
Ukraine launched its surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, with kyiv claiming to have taken control of some 100 Russian settlements and nearly 1,300 square kilometers of territory by the end of last month.
The invasion, which has been deeply embarrassing for the Kremlin, marked the first time a foreign army had taken control of parts of Russia since World War II.
Russian and Ukrainian sources confirmed last week that kyiv’s troops had begun to lose control of some of the territory they had seized during the fierce offensive, and that Moscow had launched a major counteroffensive.