Ukrainian Armed Forces publish video of Russians executing prisoners of war in Donbas
18 February 23:54
Russian occupants shot two Ukrainian soldiers who had already surrendered. The relevant footage was published by the press service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to
“This morning, in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Joint Task Force, the Russians once again showed their attitude to IHL (International Humanitarian Law – ed.) by shooting 2 Ukrainian prisoners of war,” the statement reads,
– the statement reads.
The published footage shows armed Russians in a trench approaching two Ukrainians who are unarmed and not resisting. At some point, one of the Russians shoots both Ukrainian soldiers at close range with an assault rifle. At the same time, he finishes them off with additional bursts from his assault rifle after the prisoners had already fallen to the ground.
It is not specified where this war crime took place. Social media reports that the incident took place near the village of Vesele, north-east of the occupied Soledar.
In addition, it was reported earlier that the Russian occupiers shot six captured Ukrainian soldiers in the captured Avdiivka. The Ukrainian monitoring project DeepState notes that the six wounded soldiers were unable to break out of the encirclement on their own and remained in their positions. When the Russians arrived, they simply executed the Ukrainians.
The battle for Avdiivka
russian troops intensified their offensive on Avdiivka in October 2023, simultaneously with massive strikes on the city.
on 8 February, Dmitry Lykhovoy, a representative of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, said that fighting was continuing in Avdiivka within the city limits.
on 14 February, the Donetsk Regional State Administration stated that the road to Avdiivka was completely shelled. According to Lykhoviy, if Russia cuts off the main logistics artery to Avdiivka, there are backup routes.
The next day, soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade confirmed that they had been urgently redeployed to the Avdiivka area of Donetsk region to reinforce Ukrainian troops.
on 16 February, the commander of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that Ukrainian units were continuing the heroic defence of Avdiivka, but had to abandon one of their positions on the southern outskirts of the city.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said that on the night of Saturday, 17 February, the Ukrainian Armed Forces left their positions and withdrew from Avdiivka to prevent encirclement.
The bloody battle for the city lasted five months. As of 15 February, the ratio of forces in the Avdiivka area was one to seven in favour of the Russians. the Russian Federation has concentrated elite military brigades and GRU specialists in the area.