This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Human Rights Watch has called on Ukraine to investigate any alleged war crimes its troops may have carried out after unverified reports surfaced that Ukrainian soldiers tortured Russian troops captured in the fighting since Moscow launched an attack on its neighbor.
Videos posted online on March 27 appear to show Ukrainian forces abusing captured Russian fighters or combatants, who have prisoner of war status, including shooting three of them in the leg.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the next day that Kyiv took the allegations “very seriously” and would investigate.
“If confirmed, the beating and shooting of captured combatants in their legs would constitute a war crime, and Ukraine needs to demonstrate that it is able and willing to prevent and punish serious violations of international humanitarian law,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement on April 1.
Human Rights Watch has previously warned Russia for acts is has committed that may be considered war crimes, including air strikes on a theater in the port city of Mariupol, which Ukrainian officials say was sheltering civilians when it was hit. Around 300 people were reportedly killed in the bombing.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has opened an investigation into potential war crimes by either side in the conflict in Ukraine.
