Ukraine has provided the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations with verified video footage documenting the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war as a "human shield" on the front lines. However, international institutions ignored the information.
This was reported by Dmytro Lubinets, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada, during a national television broadcast.
According to the ombudsman, the Ukrainian side was able to confirm that the footage was not fabricated and that the video is real. There is also an understanding of where and by whom it was recorded.
"Preferably, we even have assumptions about which Russian military personnel committed this crime," Lubinets said.
However, there has been no reaction from the Red Cross and the UN, despite the blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russian occupiers captured in the footage.
The ombudsman noted that the recent systematic disregard by the UN and the ICRC for evidence of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine is concerning.
"Once again, we report war crimes, and once again - no reaction," Lubinets stated.
Earlier in December, the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war as a "human shield" on the front lines in the Zaporizhia region was captured on video. Media circulated footage showing Russians leading unarmed Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers at gunpoint towards Ukrainian positions, using them as cover.
An investigation was initiated into the violation of laws and customs of war in connection with this incident.
It's worth noting that this is not the first instance of a blatant violation of international humanitarian law by the aggressor country regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.
Prior to this, a video surfaced online showing two Ukrainian military personnel surrendering as prisoners of war on the Avdiivka front. A group of Russian occupiers then executed the unarmed Ukrainian servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
