On September 17, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets expressed his concern over a photo that surfaced on social media, allegedly showing the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW) by Russia. Lubinets stated that he had reached out to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations regarding the matter.
The photo, which appeared on the morning of September 17, shows a bloodied body with a sword in its chest and the words “For Kursk” written on it. The location of the incident is unclear, but it appears to be a road with damaged vehicles and a house with broken windows in the background. The authenticity of the photo could not be verified by The Kyiv Independent.
Lubinets expressed his shock and disbelief at the level of barbarism and cruelty depicted in the photo. He emphasized that such actions are a clear violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War. This is not the first instance of Ukrainian POWs being mistreated or killed while in Russian captivity. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, there are currently 28 ongoing investigations into the execution of 62 Ukrainian POWs.
In early September, Lubinets also reported another case of an alleged execution of a Ukrainian soldier, which was captured on video. The footage showed a Russian soldier asking a Ukrainian service member if he wanted to say any last words or pray before being shot three times with a rifle.
The inhumane treatment of prisoners of war is a serious violation of international law and must be condemned by the international community. Lubinets’ appeal to the ICRC and the United Nations is a step towards seeking justice for the victims and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
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