Moscow got here out swinging at Washington Tuesday after its war crimes envoy argued Russia’s atrocities far outstripped Kyiv’s, after movies emerged allegedly displaying Ukrainian soldiers executing surrendered Russian troops.
“Any normal person shudders and rejects such atrocities. We will never forget the horrendous killing of unarmed soldiers who were forced to lie on the ground…then ruthlessly shot,” Russia’s embassy to the U.S. stated in a Telegram publish.
“How can the Administration explain its callous attitude towards the death of ordinary warriors to their mothers, wives and children?” it questioned.
Russian and Chechen soldiers in a devastated Mariupol, Ukraine neighborhood shut to the Azovstal frontline April 16, 2022. The battle between Russian/pro-Russian forces and the defending Ukrainian forces led by the Azov battalion continues in the port metropolis of Mariupol.
(Photo by Maximilian Clarke/SOPA Images/LightRocket by way of Getty Images)
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Russia has been accused of committing war crimes since the onslaught of its invasion, which prompted the International Criminal Court and several other Western nations to open hundreds of investigations into gross human rights abuses, together with compelled deportations, sexual abuse, torture and the homicide of Ukrainian civilians.
However, questions mounted over the weekend relating to potential war crimes dedicated by Ukraine after movies emerged on social media allegedly displaying Ukrainian soldiers killing Russian troops who had apparently surrendered.
“We are obviously tracking that quite closely,” U.S. Ambassador-at-Large on International Criminal Justice Beth van Schaack informed reporters Monday. “It’s really important to emphasize that the laws of war apply to all parties equally, both the aggressor state and the defender state.
“But when it comes to the war in Ukraine, that’s actually the place the equivalency ends,” she continued. ” When we’re wanting on the sheer scale of criminality exhibited by Russian forces, it’s huge in contrast to the allegations that we’ve seen against Ukrainian forces.”
Russia took issue with van Schaack’s comments, calling them “cynical” and also took issue with her “refusal” to condemn what the embassy described as a “bloodbath.”
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE
The our bodies of unidentified males, believed to be Russian soldiers, organized in a Z, a logo of the Russian invasion, lie close to a village lately retaken by Ukrainian forces on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday, May 2.
(AP/Felipe Dana)
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Fox News couldn’t confirm the authenticity of the movies, and Ukrainian officers this week stated they’d look into the allegations.
Fragmented video clips had been reportedly circulated on Russian social media over the weekend displaying a bunch of who appeared to be Russia soldiers – donning pink and white arm and leg bands – surrendering to Ukrainian troops who had been sporting yellow and blue bands.
According to footage reviewed by the Associated Press, one 36-second-long video confirmed a bunch of roughly 10 Russian soldiers, some mendacity on the bottom, whereas others apparently unarmed exited a constructing with their arms raised. Orders had been then shouted, and the ten Russians joined the boys on the bottom.
A person who seems to be armed then emerged from behind the outbuilding earlier than the video turned too blurry to make out what was taking place as gunfire rang out.
The video then reduce off.
Another 8-second video reportedly confirmed the gunman open hearth with a riffle in a slowed down impact.
A separate 25-second video appeared to be shot with a drone and showed the men lying motionless in swimming pools of blood.
Russia’s overseas ministry has demanded that the worldwide group condemn the shootings.
A lady walks amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, April 3, 2022.
(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Moscow accused the U.S. of “condoning” Kyiv’s “crimes” and stated, “Washington supports murderers who deserve no forgiveness or justification.”
The U.S. war envoy inspired each Ukrainian and Russian soldiers to abide by worldwide regulation or “face the consequences” for violating phrases outlined beneath the Geneva Convention.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.