Politics
Captured Russian commander says Moscow misled troops into war
After his capture, Russian Lt. Col. Astakhov Dmitry Mikailovich condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a “genocide” and said troops were duped into believing Kyiv had been overthrown by Nazis, according to a striking video statement aired on Ukrainian television Monday.
March 8, 2022 7:49am
Updated: March 8, 2022 7:49am
A captured Russian commander condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a “genocide” and said troops were duped into believing Kyiv had been overthrown by Nazis, according to a striking video statement aired on Ukrainian television Monday.
Russian Lt. Col. Astakhov Dmitry Mikailovich made the claims on a video broadcast on Ukraine News Channel 24 (subtitled here), where he was shown addressing the press with two other captured soldiers. He said that while in Russia, he was told that “nationalists, Nazis have seized power” in Ukraine and that “ordinary people need[ed] some help to get rid of this ‘yoke.’”
This, out of #Ukraine, is 100% one of the most incredible videos I have ever seen.
— Jackie Singh 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 (@hackingbutlegal) March 6, 2022
This Russian POW has the heart of a lion 🦁 pic.twitter.com/KIx1rsN0CZ
“Obviously, this information was unilateral information,” Mikhailovich told reporters, reports the New York Post.
Mikailovich said his faith was shaken when he found out his favorite boxers, Ukrainians Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, pledged to stay and fight against the invasion.
The colonel, who said he was speaking freely, used the opportunity to apologize to Ukrainian citizens and urge Ukraine to let Russian troops live.
“I cannot find the words to say sorry to the Ukrainian people,” Mikhailovich said, adding he would understand if Russia was never forgiven, reports the New York Post.
Videos of capture Russian soldiers like Mikhailovich have raised questions about whether or not Ukraine is violating the Geneva Conventions, which has protections for POWs.
Article 13 reads: “Prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited.”
Jonathan Turley, a legal analyst and Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, wrote in a blog post titled, “Does the Filming of the Russian POWs Violate the Geneva Conventions?” that despite the difficulties “in this fluid battlefield, Ukraine is under an obligation to seek adherence to these conventions.”
Andrew Stroehlein, European media director of Human Rights Watch, tweeted that “humiliating or making POWs a subject of public curiosity or ridicule is strictly prohibited by the laws of war.”
“Also, this prohibition protects families of soldiers back in their home country who may face retaliation if it is known that their family members have been captured,” Stroehlein added, noting these rules applied equally to Ukraine and Russia.
Short thread on prisoners of war. Please share.
— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) March 3, 2022
👉 Humiliating or making POWs a subject of public curiosity or ridicule is strictly prohibited by the laws of war. #Ukraine
Vladimir Putin’s forces have been accused by Ukraine and their allies for acts that would constitute as war crimes, such as targeting civilians. The United States announced Monday it was collecting evidence of possible war crimes, and the International Criminal Court opened an investigation last week into similar allegations.
