Ukraine Investigate Alleged Shooting Of 16 Prisoners Of War By Russia

JAKARTA - Ukrainian authorities announced on Tuesday that they had started an investigation into the alleged shooting of 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war, soldiers who had surrendered on the front lines of the eastern region, by Russian forces.

"This is the largest reported case of the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the front lines and other indications that the killing and torture of prisoners of war is not an isolated incident," Ukraine's Attorney General Andriy Kostin said in X.

"This is a deliberate policy of the military and Russia's political leadership," he continued.

Ukraine's Attorney General's Office told the Telegram messaging app it was investigating a video shared on social media showing the alleged murder.

In the video, blurry drone footage shows a group of more than ten people leaving the ditch. They lined up and then fell after being shot by an obscure other figure.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the location and date of the video recording.

Kostin said the incident occurred at the forefront of Pokrovsk, the area targeted by Russia's intensive attack.

Moscow did not immediately comment on the allegations. The Kremlin previously denied Russia was committing war crimes in Ukraine.

Ukrainian prosecutors have previously accused Russia of killing prisoners of war. They said in September they were investigating the deaths of at least 73 Ukrainian prisoners.

Kyiv authorities say it has documented more than 130,000 war crimes committed by Moscow since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022.