Russian generals trying to shift blame for war crimes committed in Ukraine onto subordinates
Russian military officials are trying to shift responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including the execution of prisoners of war, to mid- and lower-level commanders, according to a new report by the Institute for the Study of War on Feb. 24.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has published footage of a commander of the Central Group of Russian troops, Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev, reporting to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on the capture of about 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.
Shoigu stated that Russian troops need to treat prisoners of war humanely, "as they have always done.”
According to ISW, the Russian leadership is likely concerned about the international repercussions of Russian war crimes and may even have reached out to Ukrainian POWs in response to recent international attention to Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
On Feb. 18, the DeepState analytical portal reported that Russian occupiers shot six captured Ukrainian soldiers at the Museum position (formerly the Zenit military unit) in Avdiivka, who remained there after the Ukrainian army retreated from the city. Four were wounded and could not escape the encirclement along with other Ukrainian military.
Relatives of the soldiers identified their bodies from the video. Journalist Yuriy Butusov published a list of the names of the soldiers who remained in Zenit after the retreat of the Defense Forces.
The Office of the Prosecutor General stated that an investigation had been launched into the shooting of six Ukrainian prisoners of war at the Zenit position in Avdiivka and two in Veseloye, Donetsk Oblast.
On Feb. 20, the prosecutor's office announced the launch of an investigation into the shooting of Ukrainian prisoners of war near Robotyne, Zaporizhzhya Oblast.
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin noted that Ukrainian law enforcement officers are investigating 18 criminal proceedings over the killing of 38 Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russians.
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