‘Glory to Ukraine’: prisoner’s defiance in face of ‘war crime’

A video showing the alleged murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war has sparking outrage in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian prisoner of war moments before he was seemingly shot dead by Russian troops. Picture: Twitter

The prisoner inhales on his cigarette as he stands next to a shallow grave. He looks towards the Russian soldiers and proclaims “Glory to Ukraine”.

The next moment, the sound of gunfire as multiple bullets tear into his body and he crumples to the ground.

The video of the killing emerged on Russian social media on Tuesday, sparking outrage in Kyiv, which described it as a “heinous war crime”.

In it, the unseen Russian soldiers can be heard sneering moments before they open fire with automatic weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Today a video has emerged of the occupiers brutally killing a warrior who bravely said to their faces ‘Glory to Ukraine’.

“I want us all to respond to his words together, in unity: ‘Glory to the Hero! Glory to the Heroes! Glory to Ukraine!’ And we will find the murderers.”

The video could not be independently verified, but Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded the International Criminal Court investigate.

“Horrific video of an unarmed Ukrainian POW executed by Russian forces merely for saying ‘Glory to Ukraine’. Another (piece of) proof this war is genocidal,” Mr Kuleba said, adding that it was “imperative” that International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan “launches an immediate ICC investigation into this heinous war crime”.

“Perpetrators must face justice,” he said.

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, said he had sent the video to Kyiv’s “international partners”. “Once again, they violate Geneva conventions. They will not evade responsibility for their atrocities,” he said.

The phrase spoken by the detained Ukrainian soldier was trending on social media.

Moscow and Kyiv have on several occasions accused the other side of killing prisoners in the year since Russia invaded Ukraine.

A video emerged in July that appeared to show a Russian castrating and subsequently killing a Ukrainian prisoner. ​​The UN human rights monitoring mission at the time said it was appalled by the footage.

The Wagner mercenary group spearheading Russia’s assault on Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine is largely comprised of Russians recruited from prisons throughout the country.