Chain reactions worldwide, after the Russians beheaded a Ukrainian prisoner in cold blood

Ukraine appeals to the International Criminal Court after the appearance of images of a Ukrainian prisoner beheaded by the Russians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine requests the Prosecutor’s Office of the International Criminal Court to pay immediate attention to the execution of the Ukrainian prisoner beheaded by the Russian army, as part of the investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“The army of the Russian Federation continues to commit terrible war crimes in Ukraine. On April 11, a video showed Russian soldiers executing a Ukrainian prisoner. Posing for the camera, Russian executioners take a person’s life with particular cynicism,” the ministry emphasizes.

Kremlin: we need to verify its authenticity

“First of all, in the world of fakes we live in, we need to verify the authenticity of these terrible images. There is no doubt that this is terrible footage. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this, commenting on the two videos circulating on social networks that appear to show the beheading of Ukrainian soldiers. This was reported by the Russian agency Tass.

Kuleba: Russia beheads prisoners like ISIS

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba compares Russia to the Islamic State after the video of the beheading of captive Ukrainian soldiers. “A gruesome video of Russian troops beheading a Ukrainian POW is circulating online. It is absurd that Russia, which is worse than the Islamic State, chairs the UN Security Council,” he denounced, referring to the rotating presidency assumed by Moscow this month. “Russian terrorists must be expelled from Ukraine and the United Nations and held accountable for their crimes,” Kuleba added.

Zelensky: leaders react to video of beheaded Kiev soldiers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeals to international leaders after the video broadcast on social networks in which Russian soldiers beheaded two Ukrainian soldiers. “There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill. This is a video of Russia as it is. This is not an accident. This is not an episode. It has happened thousands of times. Everyone has to react. The defeat of terror is necessary”, argues Zelensky on social networks. A video circulating appears to show the decapitated bodies of two Ukrainian soldiers lying on the ground next to a destroyed military vehicle. A voice says, “They killed them. Someone approached them. They went to them and cut off their heads”.

Prigozhin denies Wagner’s involvement in the execution of the Ukrainian soldier

Wagner has nothing to do with the video of the alleged execution of a Ukrainian serviceman by Russian soldiers, distributed last night on Twitter and Telegram. This is what the founder of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said, commenting on the rumors that the video was filmed near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, by the group’s mercenaries. “I saw the video. It is not good when people are beheaded, but we have not found any evidence that the execution took place near Bakhmut and that the Wagner army participated in it,” Prigozhin said in a message posted on his Telegram channel.

EU and UN reactions

“At the moment we have no additional information regarding the veracity of the video that would show the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier by Russian soldiers.” A spokesperson for the European Commission said. “If confirmed, it would be another proof of the inhuman nature of the Russian aggression in Ukraine: it would be a serious violation of the Geneva Convention, according to which a dignified treatment of prisoners of war must be guaranteed,” he said. “The EU takes advantage of this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to bringing those guilty of crimes to justice.”

The UN is “horrified” by the video of the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner by Russian soldiers circulating online.