Nearly 80 Ukrainian troops executed by Russia since August, UN says

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING MISSION IN UKRAINE IS WARNING OF A STEEP RISE IN EXECUTIONS OF UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY RUSSIAN FORCES.

THE REPORT RELEASED MONDAY SAYS SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, 79 EXECUTIONS HAVE OCCURRED IN 24 SEPARATE INCIDENTS.

THE FINDINGS ALSO DOCUMENT THE EXECUTION OF A WOUNDED RUSSIAN SOLDIER BY UKRAINIAN FORCES. 

THE MISSION REVEALS MANY UKRAINIAN TROOPS WHO SURRENDERED OR WERE CAPTURED BY RUSSIAN FORCES WERE SHOT DEAD “ON THE SPOT.”

WITNESSES ALSO SAY SOME UKRAININIAN SERVICEMEMBERS WHO WERE INJURED OR UNARMED WERE EXECUTED.

THE REPORT SAYS THE EXECUTIONS TOOK PLACE DURING RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS.

THE MISSION SAID THE EVIDENCE OF THE 24 INCIDENTS CAME FROM VERIFIED VIDEO AND PHOTOS “PUBLISHED BY UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN SOURCES SHOWING EXECUTIONS OR DEAD BODIES.”

THE INFORMATION ALSO CAME THROUGH DETAILED INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES.

THE HEAD OF THE MISSION SAYS THESE EXECUTIONS WOULD CONSTITUTE WAR CRIMES AND ACCUSE RUSSIAN MILITARY LEADERS OF ORDERING THE INHUMANE TREATMENT AND EXECUTIONS OF CAPTURED UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS.

IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORT, UKRAINE’S FOREIGN MINISTER CALLED FOR “CONCRETE STEPS TO HOLD THE PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.”

AS STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTED IN SEPTEMBER, A VIDEO OBTAINED BY C-N-N SHOWED UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS APPEARING TO SURRENDER GUNNED DOWN BY RUSSIAN FORCES.

WHILE RUSSIA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS YET TO COMMENT ON THE MISSION’S MOST RECENT REPORT, IN RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER’S VIDEO, IT DENIED MOSCOW HAD COMMITTED ANY WAR CRIMES.

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