Human Rights Watch accuses Russia of executing dozens of surrendering Ukrainian soldiers

These executions would constitute war crimes which Russia has an obligation to investigate.

A report from the NGO Human Rights Watch published Thursday May 2 reveals that Russia executed “at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers who were trying to surrender, and perhaps six others who were surrendering or had already surrendered.”. The NGO was notably able to geolocate, date and identify the protagonists thanks to views filmed by Ukrainian or Russian drones, showing the murders of unarmed soldiers, who had surrendered, or who were in the process of surrendering.

The events to which the Human Right Watch report refers took place between December and February in three “hot spots” from the front line. First around Avdiivka near Donetsk. In December, images showed the execution of two Ukrainian soldiers emerging from a trench with their arms in the air. At the end of February, the bodies of six other Ukrainian soldiers were clearly visible: these were the wounded that the Ukrainians had not been able to evacuate during their retreat.

Another area: the southern front, particularly around the town of Robotyne. Two sets of drone videos show men surrendering to the Russians, sometimes obviously wounded, and coldly executed within seconds.

Finally, last zone: that of Bakhmut, a town taken by the Russians last May and from where they relaunched attacks in February. Again, two distinct events. First the execution of unarmed Ukrainian soldiers. The second video is the most chilling: we can clearly hear a Russian commander ordering his men not to take any prisoners. All these executions or execution orders would constitute serious war crimes.

War crimes under international law

“International humanitarian law, or the law of war, requires that parties to an international armed conflict treat soldiers rendered ‘hors de combat’ and prisoners of war humanely. in all circumstances”recalls HRW.

“Wilfully killing, mistreating or torturing these forces is a war crime. An order to kill prisoners of war or execute surrendering soldiers rather than capture them – an order ‘not to do so’ neighborhood’ – is strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law.”

HRW

in his report of May 2

“Such orders violate not only international humanitarian law, which Russia is obliged to respect, but also the Russian military code; issuing or carrying out such an order constitutes a war crime.”continues the NGO.

Human Rights Watch also reaffirms that “hasBeyond its obligations under international humanitarian law, Russia is also a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which strictly prohibits extrajudicial killings.. Also, “under international humanitarian law, Russia further has an obligation to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes committed by its forces, or by other individuals in territories it controls appropriate”, insists the NGO.