Video on social media apparently displaying Russian troops executing a Ukrainian soldier is the newest proof ‘this struggle is genocidal’, says Ukraine’s overseas minister.
Ukraine has demanded the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) examine grisly footage circulating on social media allegedly displaying Russian forces killing a Ukrainian prisoner of struggle with a sequence 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 stated “Slava Ukrainian!” – or Glory to Ukraine – earlier than a number of pictures are heard.
The sufferer slumps to the bottom as rounds from computerized 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 struggle is genocidal,” Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on social media on Monday.
Kuleba stated it was “crucial” that Prosecutor Karim Khan “launches a direct ICC investigation into this heinous struggle crime”.
“Perpetrators should face justice,” he added.
Individually, the overseas ministry stated in a tweet: “Killing prisoners of struggle is a struggle crime. These accountable 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 protection 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 struggle is genocidal. It’s crucial that @KarimKhanQC launches a direct ICC investigation into this heinous struggle crime. Perpetrators should face justice.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) Mar 6, 2023
The “Glory to Ukraine” phrase and the response “Heroyam Slava”, or “Glory to the Heroes”, have been a trademark of post-Soviet Ukraine. However it has taken on particular significance as a typical greeting in public life for the reason that begin of the Russian invasion a 12 months in the past, It has additionally served to rally worldwide help for Ukraine.
#GloryToUkraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the video confirmed Russian occupiers “brutally killing a warrior”.
He added in his night tackle on Monday: “I need us all in unity to reply to his phrases, ‘Glory to the hero. Glory to the heroes. Glory to Ukraine. And we are going to discover the murderers. Ukraine is not going to overlook the feat of every and everybody whose lives gave freedom to Ukraine endlessly.”
Inside hours of the video’s emergence, #GloryToUkraine grew to become one of many prime trending hashtags on Twitter.
Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s prosecutor normal, stated on Telegram that Ukraine’s safety service registered the capturing as a felony case underneath its felony code that covers violations of struggle legal guidelines and customs.
“Even the struggle has its personal legal guidelines,” he stated, including prosecutors from his workplace would lead the case. “There are guidelines of worldwide legislation systematically ignored by the Russian felony regime. However in the end, there shall be punishment.
At present, Ukrainians had been shaken by one other case of Russian brutality. Russian invaders killed a Ukrainian prisoner of struggle merely for uttering the phrases “Glory to Ukraine/Slava Ukraini”.
Killing prisoners of struggle is a struggle crime. These accountable for such crimes will face punishment
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) Mar 6, 2023
The pinnacle of Ukraine’s presidential workplace, Andriy Yermak, stated the person was a Ukrainian prisoner of struggle and the killing was a part of a “deliberate coverage of terror” by Russia.
Ukrainian and Western authorities say there’s proof of 1000’s of struggle 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 struggle crimes throughout the battle, together with executing surrendering troopers, has additionally surfaced.
