Russian forces systematically execute Ukrainian prisoners of war and use chemical weapons - ISW
Russian military (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Recently, Russian forces have increased the number of systematic executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Additionally, the enemy is using chemical weapons on the front lines, according to a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts noted that, according to reports from Ukrainian officials on October 21, Russian forces executed two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers near the settlement of Selydove in the Donetsk region on Friday, October 18. The Russian army shot the prisoners at close range while they were bound.
Additionally, on October 20, a Russian war correspondent published footage and openly stated that Russian troops were using chloropicrin (a pesticide and lung-damaging agent) against Ukrainian forces.
Furthermore, the US State Department announced on May 1 that it had established evidence of the Russian army's use of chloropicrin and riot control agents (RCAs) in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia has signed.
Ukrainian officials have previously reported that Russian forces are increasingly equipping grenades with chloropicrin.
ISW conclusions
In conclusion, analysts state that the evident systematic commission of war crimes along the entire front line indicates that Russian forces continue to operate with a low level of discipline. This also suggests that Russian field commanders are doing nothing to prevent their subordinates from engaging in such criminal behavior, or they may even be encouraging it.
"There is no evidence that Russia is holding Russian personnel accountable for the violations of the laws of war that have been reported," ISW summarized.
