(TruthandLiberty.com) – Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, stories have circulated about Russian soldiers with low morale. Some allegedly stopped fighting and surrendered themselves to Ukrainian forces. Now, videos are appearing of Russian soldiers who supposedly sustained injuries inflicted by the Ukrainian military after their capture, prompting allegations of POW abuse. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says if it’s true, it’s unacceptable. Still, others question the authenticity of the videos and wonder if the videos are Russian propaganda.
Regardless of authenticity, Ukraine said it would investigate whether its military members shot or injured Russian prisoners of war (POW). Senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said the government is taking the allegations seriously, according to the Washington Examiner. He warned the military harming POWs is unacceptable behavior. The adviser said the government would hold people accountable for their actions if officials found them guilty. Arestovych added abusing prisoners is a war crime without a statute of limitations.
Ukraine to probe after videos show alleged Russian POWs shot, abused https://t.co/RH6MbHUFzr pic.twitter.com/0Ctv1tq3nS
— New York Post (@nypost) March 28, 2022
Officials haven’t verified the authenticity of the videos or the location where the incidents supposedly happened. Ukrainian military commander General Valerii Zaluzhnyi questioned whether the videos were legitimate. The general said Russia would love to discredit Ukraine’s military, adding the only sources the public could trust were the official government ones. He alleged Russia is a master manipulator of disinformation.
For its part, Russia condemned POW abuse and war crimes depicted in the videos.
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