Execution of Ukrainian Soldiers
Russian forces caught and killed Ukrainian sniper Oleksandr Matsievsky after he said the words "Glory to Ukraine." A video of his last minutes captures him smoking a cigarette close to a cemetery that he had to dig. His passing is only one of many Ukrainian POWs (prisoners of war) that Russian soldiers have executed.
Mass Killings
In October, nine Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly executed in Russia’s Kursk region. A photo of their half-naked bodies helped identify one of the victims, drone operator Ruslan Holubenko, whose mother recognized him from his clothing and injuries.
War Crimes Under Investigation
Ukrainian prosecutors are investigating numerous other cases, including reports of beheadings and the use of a sword to kill a soldier with bound hands. In another incident, 16 soldiers were mowed down by automatic gunfire after surrendering. Many of these executions were filmed by Russian forces or captured by Ukrainian drones.
Systemic Pattern of Executions
Since the invasion began, Russian forces have murdered at least 147 Ukrainian POWs, including 127 in 2023. According to officials, the number of executions has significantly increased, particularly in the summer and fall of this year, indicating that these are the outcome of a coordinated effort rather than isolated incidents.
Violations of International Law
Executing POWs is a war crime under the Third Geneva Convention. Despite this, figures like Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, have openly encouraged Russian forces to take no prisoners in the war against Ukraine.
Source: BBC
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