ISW reports that Russians systematically execute prisoners of war and use chemical weapons.
Russians systematically execute prisoners of war and use chemical weapons, - ISW
Recently, Russian forces have increased the number of systematic executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Additionally, the enemy is employing chemical weapons on the front lines.
This information comes from 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 soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlement of Selidovo in the Donetsk region on Friday, the 18th. The occupiers shot the prisoners of war at close range while they were tied up.
Furthermore, on October 20, a Russian war correspondent published footage and openly stated that Russian troops are using chloropicrin (a pesticide that damages the lungs) against Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced back on May 1 that it had established the fact that the Russian army is using chloropicrin and crowd control agents in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia itself has signed.
Ukrainian officials have also reported that Russians are increasingly equipping grenades with chloropicrin.
In conclusion, analysts write that the apparent systematic commission of war crimes, occurring along the entire front line, indicates that Russian troops continue to operate at 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 even encourage it.
"There is no evidence that Russia is holding its personnel accountable for reported violations of the laws of war," ISW summarized.
Key findings from ISW as of October 21:
- The referendum on Moldova's accession to the European Union (EU), held on October 20, was passed with an extremely narrow margin, largely due to support from the Moldovan diaspora, and the current President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, will meet with Alexander Stoianoglo in the second round of voting on November 3. Several Moldovan and European officials reported potential Russian interference in the elections, and the Kremlin and its affiliates in Moldova are likely to continue their malicious attempts to influence ahead of the second round of voting on November 3.
- Kremlin officials and Russian military bloggers claimed that Moldovan authorities falsified the results of the elections and referendum, continuing to promote longstanding Kremlin narratives against Moldova's path to European integration.
- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv on October 21 and announced a new military aid package to Ukraine worth $400 million.
- Russia appears to be trying to reduce tensions in relations with South Korea following credible reports of increased North Korean cooperation with Russia, including warnings from South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence that a contingent of North Korean troops has been deployed for training in Russia.
- Russian troops continue to systematically commit war crimes, including the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the use of chemical weapons.
- Recently, Ukrainian forces made advances in the western part of the Kursk region.
- Russian troops advanced west of Kreminna, southeast of Pokrovsk, and southeast of Kurakhove.
- Recently, Russian troops conducted several mechanized attacks of various echelons in the Kurakhove direction.
- Russian occupation authorities continue to coerce the occupied Ukrainian population into signing contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.