Intercepted radio chatter and drone footage obtained by CNN appear to capture Russian orders to kill surrendering Ukrainian troops, sparking concerns over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, the radio communications provide further evidence that Russian superiors are ordering soldiers to execute surrendering Ukrainian troops in violation of international law.
The chilling radio transmissions reveal a Russian commander ordering the killings on six separate occasions. “Take the commander captive and kill everyone else,” he can be heard saying. Four minutes later, he repeats the order twice, “You do it. Take the commander captive, fk off the others.” “That’s it. Take the senior, get rid the fk of the others!” The drone footage shows six soldiers lying face down on the ground, with at least two being shot at point-blank range and another being marched away.
Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, called such incidents “grave breaches” of international law, adding that he believes this conduct could only be authorized by the highest authorities in Russia. “They would not happen with such numbers and frequency without orders – or at the very least consent – from (the) highest military commanders, which in Russia means the Presidency,” he said.
Investigations and Reactions
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office has opened 75 criminal investigations into the suspected executions of 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Yurii Bielousov, head of the war crimes department, said the rise in alleged executions was attributable to “instructions being given by top leaders of the Russian Federation, both political and military.” Bielousov noted that Putin had said Ukrainian soldiers captured in Russia’s Kursk region should be treated as terrorists, adding, “Everyone knows how Putin treats people who they call terrorists. So, it’s almost a synonym for us to execute.”
Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of the secretariat at Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said another possible explanation for the killings was that the Russian military wanted to avoid logistical issues. “It complicates military logistics, from their point of view. The Russian command made a simple decision… to shoot captured prisoners.” Okhrimenko also stated, “Violence breeds violence,” adding that Ukraine had increased training of its personnel to ensure Russian prisoners were held safely for later exchanges.
Key Findings:
– *War Crimes Investigations:* Ukraine is investigating 58,000 Russian war crimes, including killings, kidnappings, bombings, and sexual assaults.
– *Executed Prisoners: At least 71 Ukrainian POWs have been executed by Russian forces since February 2022, according to the United Nations.
– *Children Affected: Nearly 20,000 children have gone missing in Russia, according to Ukrainian authorities.
– *International Reactions:* The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of war crimes.
*Human Rights Concerns:*
– *Torture and Violence:* Human rights groups have documented cases of torture, violence, and desecration of dead bodies.
– *Attacks on Civilians:* Russian forces have targeted churches, hospitals, food facilities, and infrastructure, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties
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