Drone Footage Exposes Alleged Russian Execution of Ukrainian POWs

A disturbing video has surfaced, allegedly showing the execution of four Ukrainian soldiers by Russian forces in the village of Piatykhatky on March 13. The footage, captured by a Ukrainian drone, depicts soldiers with Russian uniform markings shooting the Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in the back after they surrendered.

Key Points:

• Graphic Evidence: The Associated Press obtained drone footage showing what appears to be the execution of four Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered.
• Visual Confirmation: According to Rollo Collins of the Center for Information Resilience, the video is a clear case of an illegal execution, not a typical combat killing.
• Conflicting Narratives: While the Ukrainian drone video shows the soldiers being shot, a Russian drone video cuts off with the men still alive, presenting conflicting narratives.
• War Crime Allegations: Ukrainian prosecutors claim at least 245 Ukrainian POWs have been killed by Russian forces since the invasion, alleging a deliberate strategy encouraged by Russian officials.
• Kremlin's Response: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia treats surrendering Ukrainian troops in accordance with international law and denies encouraging the killing of POWs.
• International Scrutiny: The incident is under investigation by Ukrainian authorities as a suspected war crime.

The video, obtained by The Associated Press, shows the Ukrainian soldiers emerging from a ruined house with one man surrendering to Russian troops, laying face-down in the grass. The Ukrainian drone video shows soldiers with Russian uniform markings raising their weapons and shooting each of the four Ukrainians in the back.

The Russian drone video, found on pro-Kremlin social media, stops abruptly with the men lying on the ground, still alive. A Russian military blogger claimed the enemy surrendered.

Yurii Bielousov, head of the war crimes department for Ukraine’s prosecutor general, told AP that at least 245 Ukrainian POWs have been killed by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion and added that it is part of a deliberate strategy supported by Russian officials.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia treats surrendering Ukrainian troops in accordance with international law and does not encourage the killing of POWs. He also repeated Moscow's claims that atrocities committed by its troops in the Ukrainian town of Bucha were faked.

The killing of surrendering POWs is a crime under international law.

Danielle Bell, head of the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said Russia enacted laws shielding soldiers from prosecution, and officials have called for the killing or torture of Ukrainian POWs and endorsed reported extrajudicial killings. Multiple videos of POW killings have appeared online, some posted by Russian soldiers themselves, she noted, suggesting an environment of broad impunity.

The Ukrainian internal security agency confirmed to AP it has opened an investigation.