Geneva [Switzerland], January 9: The UN Human Rights Office says it has credible reports of the execution of 62 Ukrainian prisoners by members of the Russian armed forces. They died in 19 incidents between the beginning of September and the end of November, the office in Geneva reported on Wednesday.
Although the office describes the reports as credible, each one is being investigated and will only be verified after witness interviews and the availability of clear evidence.
Five cases resulting in 15 deaths are clearly documented, the UN said. These include an execution west of Mykolaivka in the Donetsk region. Video footage shows Russian soldiers firing on apparently unarmed Ukrainian prisoners who fall to the ground.
"I am deeply concerned by a significant increase in credible allegations of executions of Ukrainian military personnel captured by Russian armed forces. Summary executions constitute a war crime," UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, said in a statement. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
