The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern over the treatment of Russian prisoners of war (POWs) in Ukraine, including the alleged murder of captives.
OHCHR spokeswoman Marta Hurtado stated that the UN human rights monitoring commission in Ukraine “documents and reports violations of international humanitarian law by all sides” and that the OHCHR has raised the issue with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
Hurtado also confirmed that the OHCHR considers the video footage of the execution of Russian POWs, which has been circulating online, to be authentic.
“We have raised concerns about the treatment of prisoners of war, including alleged killings of POWs by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense,” Hurtado said. “We are aware of this video, and we believe that it is authentic.”
She added that there is another video that has surfaced on social media showing a Ukrainian soldier confessing to the killings and attempting to justify the actions by claiming that the victims refused to surrender or were part of the Wagner Group, a military and security contractor fighting on behalf of the Russian Federation.
However, Hurtado emphasized that these excuses do not provide justification under international humanitarian law.
“We are also aware of another video that has appeared on social media platforms which includes additional footage of the original incident and also appears to show a Ukrainian soldier confessing the killing and trying to justify it by alleging that the victims refused to surrender or that they were part of the Wagner Group military and security contractors fighting on behalf of the Russian Federation,” Hurtado continued.
“These excuses do not provide justification for the soldier’s actions under international humanitarian law.”
The UN mission in Ukraine is reportedly trying to gather and analyze more information about the incident.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has referred to the video as further proof of Ukraine’s war crimes and has placed the responsibility on Ukraine’s Western supporters.