FILE – A Ukrainian soldier sits at his home in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Aug. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Libkos, File)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials on Sunday opened an investigation into allegations that Russian forces killed surrendering Ukrainian infantrymen — a war crime if shown — after grainy images on social media gave the impression of showing two uniformed men shot at point-blank range. diversity after getting out of a canoe.
The video shows the soldiers, one of them, with their hands in the air, exiting at gunpoint and lying on the ground before a group of Russian troops gave the impression of opening fire. It is not immediately clear whether the original video or the cases under which it filmed and it is not transparent when the incident occurred.
The Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s office on Sunday launched a criminal investigation, hours after the Ukrainian military’s press office said in an online statement that the footage is genuine.
“The video shows an organization in Russian uniform shooting at point-blank range at two unarmed servicemen dressed in the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were surrendering,” the prosecutor said in a Telegram update on Sunday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry did not respond to an emailed request for comment. As of Sunday evening, there were no public statements from the Russian government or military in the video.