Russian forces have reportedly executed Ukrainian soldiers who have surrendered.
It writes Human Rights Watch who believe that it should be investigated.
– Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its forces have committed many heinous war crimes, says Belkis Wille, Deputy Head of Crisis and Conflict.
Russian forces reportedly executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers when they tried to surrender and possibly killed six more who were in the process of surrendering or had surrendered since the beginning of December 2023, writes Human Rights Watch.
The human rights organization writes that this should be investigated as war crimes.
– Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its forces have committed many heinous war crimes. The summary execution, or killings, of surrendering and wounded Ukrainian soldiers, which is expressly prohibited under international humanitarian law, is also part of the shameful legacy, said Belkis Wille, deputy head of crisis and conflict.
Verifying drone footage
Human Rights Watch has investigated three cases of the executions by verifying and analyzing drone footage posted on social media. In those videos, the human rights organization could see that the Ukrainian soldiers clearly showed that they wanted to surrender.
They were able to verify the location of two of the three incidents based on the footage, but due to the lack of geographic detail in the footage, were unable to determine the exact location of the third.
Human Rights Watch has also analyzed more videos but has not been able to verify all the videos.
Seen to leave shelter without protection
In one of the incidents, on February 25, verified drone footage shared widely on, among others, X shows how at least seven Ukrainian soldiers leave a kind of shelter among some trees. They remove their body gear and one soldier takes off his helmet.
Everyone is lying face down while five Russian soldiers point their guns at them. Human Rights Watch writes that it can be seen that they are Russian soldiers through markings around the arms and legs.
Three Russian soldiers then shoot at the Ukrainian soldiers who clearly show that they are surrendering.