Russian
soldier appeared to have castrated a Ukrainian prisoner in video.
A horrifying video that purports to show a Russian soldier castrating a Ukrainian prisoner who, according to other sources, was later killed has surfaced.
The video was
initially shared on pro-Russian Telegram channels and examined by the Guardian.
Another guy,
whose wrists are bound and who is laying face down with the back of his pants
cut away, is seen being approached by a Russian soldier who is wearing a unique
black wide-brimmed hat. The prisoner is identified as a Ukrainian by blue and
yellow spots on his clothing.
While other
troops insult the prisoner, the soldier in the cap, who is donning blue
surgical gloves, reaches down with a green-handled knife and mutilates the
victim.
There are rumors that the Russian soldier was previously seen in the
area of the Azot chemical factory in Sievierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine and
that he was serving with a Chechen group known as the Akhat battalion, while
much is uncertain regarding the footage's origin, date, and location.
Despite the Guardian's inability to independently confirm the
footage's veracity, it has been extensively disseminated on pro-Russian
websites and on Ukrainian social media, where some Russian users have posted
photographs making fun of the wounded soldier.
Former Australian general and military commentator Mick Ryan
tweeted: "A video of Russian forces carrying out an abominable and
revolting crime on a helpless Ukrainian prisoner of war has been making the
rounds over the past few days. While I won't add to this, I did want to share
some ideas.
“First, on a basic human level, I am horrified that one human will
do this to another. There is nothing to excuse such a heinous and inhumane
crime. Second, as a soldier, it pains me to witness a fellow warrior being
abused in such a manner. No soldier should receive such abhorrent treatment.
The head of research and training at the investigative website
Bellingcat, Aric Toler, asserted that the video appeared to be real and that a
Russian soldier sporting the same distinctive black wristband and hat as the
man in the video had previously appeared in a segment on the Russian television
network RT.
The film, according to Marie Struthers, head of Amnesty
International's eastern Europe and central Asia division, "was yet another
evident illustration of Russian forces' total contempt for human life and
dignity in Ukraine.
All those accused of committing crimes must be looked into and, if
there is enough admissible evidence, tried in open, fair trials in front of
regular civil courts, without resorting to the death sentence.
The video has caused a great deal of anger and sorrow throughout
Ukraine, and authorities in Kyiv have vowed to pursue the offenders.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on Twitter, wrote: "All the world needs to understand: Russia is a country of cannibals who relish torture and death. However, the haze of battle won't make it easier to escape the penalty of the executioners. We all have names. We'll capture everyone.
