Since December 2023, the Russian occupiers have executed at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen while they were trying to surrender.
This is stated in a statement by Human Rights Watch.
HRW conducted a study of three cases of executions without trial of at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers based on drone videos posted on social media on December 2 and 27, as well as February 25, 2024. In addition to the 15 identified cases, six executions of military personnel who surrendered or were already in captivity were recorded.
It is noted that in all these cases, the Ukrainian military demonstrated a clear intention to surrender, and since they were no longer involved in hostilities, i.e., were considered out of action, they could not be targeted under international humanitarian law and the laws of war.
In addition, Human Rights Watch verified the fourth case by analyzing another video that appeared on social media on February 19. In it, two Russian soldiers shoot three unarmed Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered. The organization was unable to independently verify the location of the incident.
The investigation into the fifth incident was based on an interview with a Ukrainian soldier, a video on one of the Telegram channels, and media reports, including interviews with family members of one of the victims. According to available information, six soldiers were executed in this case.
HRW writes that one of the cases occurred on February 25.
The drone video, which was widely shared on the Internet, particularly on the X network, shows at least seven Ukrainian soldiers coming out of a dugout located among the trees between two fields, taking off their body armor, one of them taking off his helmet, and then all of them lying face down. At the same time, five Russian soldiers, identified by their red arm and leg bandages, point their machine guns at them and fire in the direction of the Ukrainian soldiers, who had clearly asked to be taken prisoner. Then six Ukrainian soldiers continued to lie face down, reacting to the shots. The seventh tried to return to the dugout, but did not have time - he was hit by a bullet. The incident took place near the village of Ivanivske in Donetsk Region.
The organization believes that such executions are not uncommon. The researchers also identified a video taken from a Russian drone and released on February 5, which shows a particular moment of the battle. The organization was unable to establish whether Ukrainian soldiers tried to surrender, but a male voice giving orders to Russian soldiers during the battle said "take no prisoners, shoot everyone."
Earlier, Apostrophe reported that the occupiers shot captured Ukrainian soldiers near Zaporizhzhia.