Lubinets: Executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war are a systemic policy of the Russian Federation, encouraged at the highest level
26 May 21:53
The Russian military regularly executes Ukrainian prisoners of war, and these actions are systematic and supported by the highest level of Russian leadership. This was stated by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“The shootings of unarmed Ukrainian soldiers are a gross violation of the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law,” the ombudsman emphasized.
According to him, these war crimes are being recorded and referred to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations for investigation. But, according to Lubinets, recording alone is not enough – comprehensive investigations must be conducted and the perpetrators brought to justice.
“These are not isolated cases. This is a systematic, deliberate policy that is encouraged in Russia,” he emphasized.
Lubinets also emphasized that the effectiveness of documenting crimes and their further investigation largely depends on the support of the international community.
“The real prospect of punishing the perpetrators – through the International Criminal Court or a special tribunal – depends on the level of legal and political support from our Western partners,” he said.
Earlier it became known that the special units of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine documented more than 150 cases of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Many of them contain direct orders to execute prisoners, which is direct evidence of war crimes.
According to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, executions of prisoners of war are not isolated incidents but have a systematic, targeted nature.
According to the Ombudsman, such crimes are encouraged by the Russian military and political leadership at the highest level.
Special units of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine have documented more than 150 cases of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
In many cases, there were direct orders from commanders to kill prisoners, even if they were wounded or unarmed.
Violation of international law
Such actions constitute a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949), which expressly prohibits the killing, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war.
They also fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
International response
Ukraine transfers all documented cases to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN, and also includes them in the ICC’s files.
The issue remains in the realm of international political pressure – without proper support from the West, real justice against the perpetrators and instigators of these crimes may be difficult.
Videos have repeatedly appeared on the Internet showing the killing of Ukrainian prisoners, including those where soldiers refuse to follow the occupiers’ orders and demonstratively die saying “Glory to Ukraine!”
One of these videos – the shooting of a prisoner of war in a trench after saying “Glory to Ukraine!” – caused a wide international outcry.
