Near Avdiivka

Russians shot Ukrainian prisoners of war

Two Russian soldiers in Avdiivka

(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Following the capture of the small town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, Russian soldiers presumably shot seriously wounded Ukrainians who had remained there, according to Kiev - despite an agreement that actually prohibits this.

The enemy had agreed to carry out the evacuation of the wounded, to provide them with assistance and to exchange them later, the 110th Brigade, which had been withdrawn from Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, announced on Facebook on Monday.

However, at least five of those left behind were later identified as dead in videos posted by the Russian side. The whereabouts of one soldier are uncertain.

Investigation into war crimes
The day before, the Ukrainian public prosecutor's office had already announced that it had opened an investigation into war crimes and murder following the shooting of six Ukrainian seriously wounded soldiers by the Russian army.

This is what Avdiivka looks like today:

In another case near the village of Vessele, also in the Donetsk region, there is also a drone video showing the shooting of two more Ukrainian soldiers after their capture, he said. The Russian military finally captured Avdiivka on Saturday after months of attempts.

Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for almost two years. Since then, Kiev and international organizations have repeatedly accused the Russian side of war crimes.