And what do they think of the war? The cells are furnished with old furniture. Nor are measures of reprisal against prisoners of war permitted by those who capture them, though POWs can be detained if they are kept safe and healthy. Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. In addition, the prisoners of war are allowed to go for walks and bathe daily. This video shows Russian soldiers being interrogated.. Prigozhin has been praised by Russian state-controlled media. Members of organised armed groups, such as resistance fighters or rebels that have a command structure considered a party in the conflict, are also entitled to prisoner of war protections if they are captured. Yermak identified. The prohibition of torture and ill-treatment is absolute, even indeed especially- in times of armed conflict. DW was able to get exclusive access and speak with prisoners in one facility. Mr Zelensky's defence officials have also claimed "panic" and "refusals to fight" have plagued Moscow's forces. Some are deemed to be prisoners of . Captured Russian inmates who have been sent to the front lines in Ukraine as part of the Wagner Group, an infamous mercenary organisation with ties to the Kremlin, say they've witnessed public executions of deserters and disobedient troops, per a new report from Polygon Media and the independent Mozhem Obyasnit outlet. Last modified on Fri 8 Apr 2022 00.27 EDT. Detainees appeared with bandages and . Is Putin about to gamble on a second mobilisation wave? When he sent his troops into the country in February, many believed the Kremlin was hoping to take control of Ukraine in just days. Turning now to the treatment of prisoners of war interned by the Government of Ukraine. Express. A soldier can then be heard shouting Glory to Ukraine. "When we came to the villages, people told us bluntly: 'Get out! The former inmate reportedly added: "There are squadrons of liquidators shelling began. Russian President Vladimir Putin "has given orders to commit crimes. This is YOUR comments community. He said: "As the Ukrainians acquire more modern weaponry thanks to Western aid, the Russians want to gain ground by increasing the number of soldiers on the ground. The Mirror also reported Russian troops are waging a ferocious house-to-house battle in eastern Ukraine - as President Vladimir Putin slapped a major reshuffle on top generals. Relatives of inmates at two prisons outside St Petersburg, IK-7 . They have signed a statement warning the Presidents actions are detrimental to the future of Russia and its citizens. Content copyright Journal Media Ltd. 2023 Registered in Dublin, registration number: "I believed the news on television that we were going to travel to Ukraine to help, that there were nationalists here who would kill and torture their own people," he says. The idea that Russia might eventually start forcing its inmates to go to war was a view shared by others the Guardian spoke to. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the leading United Nations entity in the field of human rights, with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Third states, in particular those providing support to the belligerents, have an obligation under Common article 1 of the Geneva Conventions to ensure respect of international humanitarian law by the parties to the conflict. It could, depending on the circumstances, be a war crime, she warned, but that would of course be for a court to establish. Instagram @unitednationshumanrights. At the same time as promoting Gerasimov above them he has also demoted so-called General Armageddon Sergei Surovikin to become the military number two. In Ukraine, captured Russian soldiers say their government tricked them. and RollingNews.ie unless otherwise stated. The government in Kyiv has said it is looking into one video that purports to show Ukrainians shooting Russian prisoners in the legs. Subscribe to leave a comment. Russia is publicly executing troops who defy Vladimir Putin's orders in Ukraine. We also documented various forms of sexual violence, such as pulling a male victim by a rope tied around his genitalia, or forced nudity combined with the threat of rape. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Others are in a sort of legal limbo not facing any criminal charges or considered to be POWs. Is sharing cake in the office really like passive smoking. During the interviews, DW journalists were accompanied by prison staff who allowed themto choose the men theywanted to interview. Press briefing notes Russia-Ukraine war Wagner group: Russian prisoners recruited by mercenaries 'already captured by Ukrainian forces' Sources tell MEE that poorly trained and equipped convicts are being. The group has also been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes in Ukraine and other conflicts. ), He responded toan online advertisement he came across and was sent to Donetsk, which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists. , Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user. But this never happened. All the prisoners DW was able to speak with assured us that they regret their participation in the invasion of Ukraine and that they did not shoot at peaceful civilians in villages and towns. ', "And they killed him. The CIT. Prisoners of Russia's controversial Wagner group, which has murderers, rapists and drug dealers on its front line, have come clean to their Ukrainian captors. Press conferences in Kyiv appear intent on showing fighters are being captured. The living soldiers in the video are wearing the Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow on their arms, while the men on the floor wear white armbands, the colour of Russian troops. A man who was tortured in a penal colony near Olenivka told us how members of Russian-affiliated armed groups, and I quote, attached wires to my genitalia and nose, and shocked me. So that we can be reunited again. Wire service provided by AFP and Press Association. Scenes in the video match the scenery on Google Street View of the main road outside Dmytrivka, which is about seven miles south-west of Bucha with roads to Irpin. As the Ombudsman posted on Telegram, the parties discussed the release of Kremlin's prisoners, arbitrarily detained and imprisoned in Russia for alleged criminal offenses in the territory of Crimea, and the return home of seriously wounded Ukrainian service members who currently stay in the territory of the Russian Federation.. But there he was standing in front of us: Prigozhin, in the flesh, urging us to join the Wagner private military group and fight in Ukraine.. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. 5 min. Get the latest from our news, events and meetings. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. A Russian woman Irina told the publication that her husband, who was in jail in Nizhny Novgorod, had told her two weeks ago that he was departing for Ukraine the next day. However, he stressed that the simple fact of showing a picture as long as it is not inhuman or degrading treatment is not a war crime. There are, apparently, three cardinal sins recruits can commit. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. ", READ MORE:Russian strategy in chaos as Putins troops attack vital dam. Again, this video offers proof that this is the case apparently the first prison recruits joined the group at the start of June from a penal colony near St Petersburg. The footage seems to show a gun being fired at a wounded soldier, while other dead bodies of troops in Russian uniforms are seen . policy. Two Russian soldiers taken prisoner near Kyiv, by Ukraine following Russia's military operation in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Learn more about each topic, see who's involved, and find the latest news, reports, events and more. The head of Russia's paramilitary Wagner Group said that a first group of prisoners whom it recruited to fight in Ukraine have completed their service and been pardoned, state media reported. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The Russian prisoners are a captive audience, he said, and listen politely. A war crime is defined by the United Nations as a serious breach of international law committed against civilians or enemy forces during an armed conflict. Prison staff say that Russian soldier Vadim S., who was also imprisoned along with the prisoners here, allegedly only confessed to shooting and killing a civilian in the Sumy region during a lie detector test. Though similarly part of the propaganda war, these efforts are much less likely to prompt an outcry from humanitarian groups than videos of POWs and, importantly, are all valid under the Third Geneva Convention. The latest exchange included 64 Ukrainian soldiers and a US national living in Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said on Wednesday. services and Create an email alert based on the current article, The Explainer is a weekly podcast from TheJournal.ie that takes a deeper look at one big news story you need to know about. Email How Ukraine is dealing with Russian POWs - and how they are supposed to be treated by law. The prisoners are also said to have been examined by a lie detector. At least Ill have a chance to fight for my freedom. A Ukrainian website purporting to count. "They also went out in some disarray, leaving behind large amounts of military equipment. Moscow The first group of Russian prisoners offered an amnesty in return for fighting in Ukraine has been released, the head of a mercenary group that employed them said in a video. We also documented cases of ill-treatment of Russian prisoners of war in a penal colony in Dnipropetrovska region and in several pre-trial facilities, including so-called welcome beatings. More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal. Facebook unitednationshumanrights The latest Kremlin changes at the top of its military could signal a new and terrifying escalation as Russia's military leaders compete for better results in Ukraine. Prisoners would be bound to a six-month tour of service with the Wagner Group, and would be expected to avoid these substances throughout. And they say they have witnesses public executions by their their own leaders. Other described forms of physical abuse, including being stabbed, shot with a stun gun, threatened with mock executions, being hung by the hands or legs, and burned with cigarettes. Firstly, deserting. Since the Russian Federation did not grant us such access, and we conducted the interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war upon their release. A soldier then shoots him in the head twice. Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, who founded the most powerful mercenary group in the country, on Thursday released the first group of prisoners whom he recruited to fight in the war against Ukraine for six months in exchange for freedom, according to NBC News. However, several women did recount being beaten, electrocuted and threatened with sexual violence during interrogations in other locations. Such treatment does appear to be humiliating and degrading, she said. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday there are "heavy bloody battles" being fought over Soledar, per the Moscow Times. He renewed his contract with the Russian forces in March, he says. Between 7,000 and 10,000 Russian prisoners, including a convicted cannibal, have been recruited by Wagner since this summer, Olga Romanova, the head of the Russia Behind Bars prison-monitoring NGO . Mr Sabbagh added that Russian soldiers fleeing in a chaotic fashion has become a regular occurrence during the war. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Wagner leader says first Russian prisoners recruited to fight in Ukraine as mercenaries have been pardoned From CNN's Seb Shukla Video footage has emerged purporting to show Wagner mercenary. In some cases, Russian prisoners of war (from Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups) said they were punched and kicked in the face and body after surrendering and when they were interrogated by members of the Ukrainian armed forces. In the colony near Olenivka, women prisoners of war were not subjected to physical violence, but described being psychologically tormented by the screams of male prisoners of war being tortured in nearby cells. The leaked video offers proof that, despite refusal by the Russian government to acknowledge their existence, the Wagner Group has been involved in the war in Ukraine for at least several months. For breakfast, there was corn porridge with meat, the prisoners say. His unit tried to return to Russia, but the commander forbade it. Video allegedly shows Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin recruiting prisoners to go fight in Ukraine. Together with dozens of other medics and wounded soldiers, she had been hiding from Russian shelling in a . He added that he would sign up if given the choice now, saying: I have 11 more years to spend in jail. Listen to our daily podcast. Ivan is halfway through a 23-year sentence for murder and asked to use a pseudonym out of concern for his safety. "Generally, Russia has more Ukrainian prisoners than Ukraine has Russian prisoners, it has to be said.". There he learned to drive a T-72 tank in just a few days. Ukrainian investigators have so far also failed to produce evidence of any war crimes they may have committed. Russian forces were forced to retreat from areas near the capital Kyiv to focus on fighting in the east. Torture and ill-treatment were not only used to coerce prisoners of war to give military information or statements about alleged crimes. Both Ukraine and the Russian Federation are parties to the Third Geneva Convention that sets out requirements relative to the treatment of prisoners of war. Readers like you keep news free for everyone. Prisoners with combat experience across Russia are being recruited en masse to fight in Ukraine, the Gulagu.net prisoner's rights group has . The conflict was triggered by the Ukrainian Revolution - when an uprising overthrew the pro-Russian government of Viktor. In the video, Yevgeniy Prigozhin paces about a large group of prisoners, giving them the hard sell on joining the Russian war effort. If possible, we get it. During his visit to the city of Izyum,. The ICRC,which is the guarantor of the Geneva Conventions, also said that prisoners should be absolutely protected against ill-treatment and exposure to public curiosity including images circulating publicly on social media. But after just three days,he was ordered to encircle Kharkiv, a city of over a million people. The Wagner group, run by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, uses former prison inmates to fight on the front line, and was dubbed 'Putin's most dangerous secret weapon in the Ukraine invasion. Roman was injured during fighting in the Kharkiv region. Before I go into detail about our findings, it is important to emphasise that Ukraine gave us confidential access to prisoners of war in places of internment, where we spoke to them. "We are asked every day if we need anything. Responding to criticism over the idea of hiring prisoners to help in the war, Mr Prigozhin said in a statement that those who do not want to send convicts to fight should instead send their own children. Russia is reportedly recruiting thieves and killers from prisons to bolster its ailing invasion of Ukraine. A man responds with the phrase: Glory to heroes., The audio ends with a man saying: Do not [expletive] come to our land.. We documented cases of torture and ill-treatment, mostly when people were captured, first interrogated, or moved to transit camps and places of internment. Hundreds of Russian soldiers are reportedly refusing to fight and trying to quit. These guys were running for their lives. A Ukrainian website purporting to count the number of Russian POWs gives an unofficial count of 378. "Honestly, we were deceived,"Roman, who is from Vyborg in Russia, tells us. Two Russian soldiers have been captured by Ukrainian soldiers, according to the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), a collection of investigators based between Russia and Ukraine. March 28, 2022 9:01am Updated Ukraine has vowed to investigate after graphic videos emerged purporting to show the horrific abuse of Russian prisoners of war, including some who were shot in. You can unsubscribe at any time. But what use is he to us dead? DW spoke with prisoner Oleg from Karelia in private in a separate room. All rights reserved. They simply had fun and were not interested in my replies to their questions. Prisoners of Russia's controversial Wagner group, which has murderers, rapists and drug dealers on its front line, have come clean to their Ukrainian captors. Some are deemed to be prisoners of war, even though they never took part in the fighting. At the start of the month, the general staff of Ukraines armed forces said the country had captured 200 Russians a figure that has likely risen since. Film these marauders. They were also subjected to degrading treatment that amounted to sexual violence, like being forced to run naked from one room to another in the presence of male guards. "It is worth remembering that already during the partial mobilisation last year there was speculation that Putin's true intention is to recruit up to 1 million people. At the beginning of the summer, reports began to surface of prisoners being recruited as canon-fodder for the rapidly depleting Russian forces. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has set up a Telegram channel with videos that it says show captured, injured, and dead Russian soldiers. The higher-up is killed if his team deserts.". It sounds like it was sudden and panicked. and are usually just waiting for a prisoner exchange. None of the prisoners DW spoke with complained about poor prison conditions or inhumane treatment. Groups of Russian Prisoners of War have been paraded to the press by Ukraine. The Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, previously a staunch supporter of Putin's, has also expressed concerns. It is also crucial to note that the fundamental obligation of a state is to treat all prisoners of war in their power humanely at all times - from the very moment they are captured until their release and repatriation. They were often taken in overcrowded trucks or buses, and sometimes lacked access to water or toilets for more than a day. At a pretrial detention facility in Ukraine, the second floor is reserved for Russian prisoners of war. READ MORE:'Ill equipped and badly led' Wallace slams Putin's twisted war fantasy[REVEAL]. The Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) reported that some ex-cons have even appealed to human rights organisations to be returned to prison rather than face execution by their own leaders. submissions or preferences. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. The EU has sanctioned the Wagner Group, accusing it of performing clandestine operations on the Kremlins behalf. Is the Trussite Tory growth group a threat to Rishi Sunak? Andrey Lyubimov / Moskva News Agency. In the first round of mobilisation, a secret clause in Putin's decree was revealed, showing one million men could be called to take up arms and fight in Ukraine. To conclude, I would like to emphasize the fundamental obligation of states to treat all prisoners of war in their power humanely at all times, from the moment they are captured until their release and repatriation, and to allocate sufficient resources to ensure implementation of this obligation. You can unsubscribe at any time. When his tank was fired upon near Pryluky in the Chernihiv region on February 27, he surrendered to the Ukrainians. He continues to move, so the soldier shoots again, and he stops. Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or Unlike Putins fascists, we Ukrainians do not make war against mothers and their captured children, Ukraines defence ministry has said. The Daily Star reports a captured soldier who said: "Those who disobey are eliminated and its done publicly,". One of them is Dmitry. DON'T MISSWestern leaders warned to prepare for 'disaster' of Kremlin collapse[INSIGHT]Russian army units 'fled in apparent panic' during retreat[ANALYSIS]Putin tries to flood Zelensky's home city in twisted Kharkiv revenge[INSIGHT]. for the content of external websites. A threat russian prisoners ukraine Rishi Sunak led ' Wallace slams Putin 's twisted war fantasy [ ]... Stay on topic who said: `` Those who disobey are eliminated and its done,... 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