"Ukrainian Soldier Shot Dead While Raising Hands and Kneeling"…Russia Suspected of Another War Crime

"Increase in Similar Cases Noted This Year"

Scenes of Russian troops killing surrendered Ukrainian soldiers have been captured once again.

Ukrainian soldiers came out of the trenches, raised both hands above their heads, and knelt down to indicate their surrender. However, they then collapsed to the ground and did not move. CNN reported that Russian forces executed the surrendered Ukrainian soldiers. [Image source=Captured from CNN, USA]

On the 6th (local time), the US CNN broadcast reported drone footage showing Ukrainian soldiers who had their trenches seized by Russian troops during a battle near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk at the end of August. The footage showed the Ukrainian soldiers coming out with both hands raised above their heads and kneeling to indicate their surrender. However, shortly after, three Ukrainian soldiers who were kneeling collapsed to the ground and appeared motionless as if dead. CNN pointed out that the footage shows Russian troops executing three surrendered Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukrainian officials who viewed the footage also stated, "This is a clear case of Russian troops executing Ukrainian prisoners of war," adding, "Such cases have been rapidly increasing this year."

CNN reported that it received a list of 15 cases of summary executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russia since November last year from Ukrainian intelligence sources. All of these cases involve Russian troops killing Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered on the front lines without taking them as prisoners of war, with evidence secured through drone footage or radio interception.

Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, also revealed that since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022, at least 28 cases of summary executions of Ukrainian soldiers are under investigation. The Ukrainian prosecution is also investigating the possibility that "Russian troops have killed 73 Ukrainian prisoners of war through summary executions and other means." Ukrainian military authorities believe that, aside from the cases where footage has been released or investigations are ongoing, several similar incidents have occurred multiple times.

Prosecutor General Kostin emphasized that these crimes are being committed by various Russian troops across Ukraine and that the Russian military’s policy is a "crime against humanity," carried out under the Kremlin’s orders, providing an opportunity to assert this. Kostin pointed out, "Given that summary executions recently captured on the front lines are being carried out systematically, this could be part of a broader genocide."

Ukrainian authorities also argue that, beyond the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, genocide charges should be applied.