Russian forces executed Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered, says Human Rights Watch report

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Russian forces will have executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers who have surrendered since the beginning of December 2023, according to a report. report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The US-based organization called for the alleged executions to be investigated as war crimes.

“Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its forces have committed heinous war crimes,” said Belkis Wille, deputy director for crisis and conflict at HRW.

“The summary execution – or murder – of surrendered and wounded Ukrainian soldiers, shot down in cold blood, expressly prohibited by international humanitarian law, is also included in this shameful legacy.”

HRW analyzed drone images published on social media on December 2 and 27, 2023, and on February 25 of this year.

In the videos, it appears that the Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to Russian troops, but were shot down. HRW said it was unable to verify the location of some of the incidents.

International humanitarian law establishes that upon surrender, soldiers cease to be targets and cannot be shot down.

The Geneva Conventions specifically say that combatants who are out of combat for reasons such as surrender, injury or capture must be treated humanely and can no longer be targets of attack.

On February 25, footage shows at least seven Ukrainian soldiers removing their bullet-proof vests. One of them also took off his helmet. They all face down as five Russian soldiers point guns at them. Six of the Ukrainian men did not move after being hit. One of them tried to escape before being shot dead. This incident took place in the village of Ivanivske, near the Donetsk region.

HRW was able to distinguish between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers by identifying the tape on their arms: Ukrainian troops wear blue and Russian troops wear white or red.

The United Nations reported in March that Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity were victims of torture, including repeated beatings, electric shocks and mock executions.

Some were even subjected to sexual violence, according to the report.

The UN also recorded “credible allegations” that Russian troops executed at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war. In a report published a year earlier, the Organization noted that Russian troops and the Wagner Group had executed 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war during the first year of the full-scale invasion.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office announced on April 9 that it was conducting 27 criminal investigations into the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that his government committed war crimes against Ukrainians.

“While each of these cases is horrific, perhaps most damning is the evidence indicating that in at least one case, Russian forces gave explicit orders to kill soldiers rather than let them surrender, thereby supporting war crimes.” , said Wille.