Ukraine investigates alleged execution of prisoner of war by Russia

The general prosecutor’s office announced on Wednesday that Ukraine had launched a war crimes inquiry into the reported killing of three Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces.

According to the authorities, the event happened this month in the southeast Zaporizhzhia district, close to the town of Robotyne. It was caught on camera and went viral on the internet.

This is the second accusation that Ukrainian prosecutors have made against Russia this month, and Russia chose not to respond right away.

“This is another case of a gross violation by the aggressor country of international humanitarian law regarding the treatment of prisoners of war,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

On December 3, following another video on social media that seemed to show multiple soldiers murdering two military personnel who were about to surrender at gunpoint as they emerged from a dugout, Ukraine accused Russia of committing a war crime.

In March of last year, a video showed a captured Ukrainian soldier being shot dead after he boldly said, “Glory to Ukraine,” a welcome that has gained particular meaning as a regular public salutation since the beginning of the conflict.

(With agency inputs)