Video on social media apparently displaying Russian troops executing a Ukrainian soldier is the most recent proof ‘this warfare is genocidal’, Ukraine’s overseas minister says.
Ukraine has demanded the Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC) examine grisly footage circulating on social media allegedly displaying Russian forces killing a Ukrainian prisoner of warfare with a collection of blasts from assault weapons.
The novice video apparently depicts a detained soldier standing in a shallow trench, sporting camouflage, and smoking a cigarette. The person mentioned “Slava Ukraini!” – or Glory to Ukraine – earlier than a number of photographs are heard.
The sufferer slumps to the bottom as rounds from automated weapons repeatedly hit his physique. A voice in Russian is heard saying, “Die bi*ch”.
“Horrific video of an unarmed Ukrainian POW executed by Russian forces merely for saying ‘Glory to Ukraine’. One other [piece of] proof this warfare is genocidal,” International Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on social media on Monday.
Kuleba mentioned it was “crucial” that Prosecutor Karim Khan “launches a direct ICC investigation into this heinous warfare crime”.
“Perpetrators should face justice,” he added.
Individually, the overseas ministry mentioned in a tweet: “Killing prisoners of warfare is a warfare crime. These liable for such crimes will face punishment.”
Authenticity, date or location of the video, which is of poor high quality, couldn’t instantly be verified. Russia’s defence ministry didn’t remark.
Horrific video of an unarmed Ukrainian POW executed by Russian forces merely for saying “Glory to Ukraine”. One other proof this warfare is genocidal. It’s crucial that @KarimKhanQC launches a direct ICC investigation into this heinous warfare crime. Perpetrators should face justice.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 6, 2023
The “Glory to Ukraine” phrase and the response “Heroyam Slava”, or “Glory to the Heroes”, has been an indicator of post-Soviet Ukraine. But it surely has taken on particular significance as a typical greeting in public life for the reason that begin of the Russian invasion a year ago. It has additionally served to rally worldwide assist for Ukraine.
#GloryToUkraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the video confirmed Russian occupiers “brutally killing a warrior”.
He added in his night tackle on Monday: “I would like us all in unity to answer his phrases, ‘Glory to the hero. Glory to the heroes. Glory to Ukraine.’ And we’ll discover the murderers. Ukraine won’t overlook the feat of every and everybody whose lives gave freedom to Ukraine without end.”
Inside hours of the video’s emergence, #GloryToUkraine turned one of many high trending hashtags on Twitter.
Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s prosecutor common, mentioned on Telegram that Ukraine’s safety service registered the capturing as a felony case underneath its felony code that covers violations of warfare legal guidelines and customs.
“Even the warfare has its personal legal guidelines,” he mentioned, including prosecutors from his workplace would lead the case. “There are guidelines of worldwide legislation systematically ignored by the Russian felony regime. However eventually, there can be punishment.”
At the moment, Ukrainians had been shaken by one other case of Russian brutality. Russian invaders killed a Ukrainian prisoner of warfare merely for uttering the phrases “Glory to Ukraine/Slava Ukraini”.
Killing prisoners of warfare is a warfare crime. These liable for such crimes will face punishment
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 6, 2023
The top of Ukraine’s presidential workplace, Andriy Yermak, mentioned the person was a Ukrainian prisoner of warfare and the killing was a part of a “deliberate coverage of terror” by Russia.
Ukrainian and Western authorities say there may be proof of thousands of war crimes dedicated in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied its forces have dedicated atrocities or attacked civilians.
Proof of Ukrainian forces committing war crimes throughout the battle, together with executing surrendering troopers, has additionally surfaced.
