The Western media, and especially the American legacy press, have been citing Russia for 'war crimes' against Ukrainians since President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade his western neighbor on Feb. 24.
There is little doubt that Putin's war has been brutal: Photos and video of smoldering ruins in Ukrainian cities abound; bombed-out apartment complexes, entire city blocks destroyed; millions of refugees created.
But have Russian soldiers committed "war crimes?" Is Putin a "war criminal?"
Perhaps. In war -- and make no mistake, what is occurring in Ukraine is an actual war of the kind not seen in the Western world in decades -- people die. Cities are destroyed. Infrastructure is ruined. Lives are disrupted, often for years afterward. Commerce is sacked.
There is nothing pleasant about war and the death it brings. But again, are attacks against cities and civilian centers actually war 'crimes'? Not of Putin's objective is to win, and it obviously is.
And to that point, are Russian soldiers the only ones committing 'war crimes?' Hardly, if the videos below are genuine.
They appear to show Ukrainian soldiers badly mistreating Russian POWs, including shooting them in the legs after capture -- ostensibly to prevent them from trying to escape -- to beating them nearly to death.
WARNING: Extremely Graphic
18+ (21+)
Ukrainian soldiers shoot Russian prisoners of war in the legs and afterwards give them a severe beating. At the beginning of the video, there are Russian POWs lying on the ground with bullet wounds in their legs, some of them have got leg bones broken. #WarCrimes pic.twitter.com/t8Wj33X8rv
— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) March 27, 2022
"Ukrainian soldiers shoot Russian prisoners of war in the legs and afterwards give them a severe beating. At the beginning of the video, there are Russian POWs lying on the ground with bullet wounds in their legs, some of them have got leg bones broken," noted independent journalist Maria Dubovikova wrote in one of her video posts.
It might give the impression that the Russian military were captured after having been wounded. But that's not the case. At the end of the video, we can see Ukrainian soldiers shooting all the newly arrived prisoners through their legs.#WarCrimes pic.twitter.com/o7B7M1p2pG
— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) March 27, 2022
"It might give the impression that the Russian military were captured after having been wounded. But that's not the case. At the end of the video, we can see Ukrainian soldiers shooting all the newly arrived prisoners through their legs," she wrote in another video clip post.
"Many of them are dying from shock due to the pain right on camera. And all of this is being filmed by Ukrainian soldiers themselves," she wrote in another post.
Many of them are dying from shock due to the pain right on camera. And all of this is being filmed by Ukrainian soldiers themselves.
— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) March 27, 2022
She then went on to post a notice from Ukrainian government officials reminding soldiers to adhere to the Geneva Convention, as a means of pushing back on those who believe the videos were faked.
To all those yelling “fake”. I wish it was. https://t.co/XIJEMhpAia
— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) March 27, 2022
Dubovikova then posted another video of what appears to be a Ukrainian soldier calling the family of a Russian soldier who had been killed.
"This video (as well as the previous ones) is from Ukrainian militants Telegram channels. They are very proud of themselves filming their atrocities. Such footages are numerous.
For ex., another graphic 18+, posted by a Ukrainian militant," she wrote.
This video (as well as the previous ones) is from Ukrainian militants Telegram channels. They are very proud of themselves filming their atrocities. Such footages are numerous.
For ex., another graphic 18+, posted by a Ukrainian militant. https://t.co/snDCfaP4iI https://t.co/6M9k40xbdt
— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) March 28, 2022
The moral of the story here is simply this: There are war crimes being committed by both sides in this conflict, not just by one. And Western intelligence agencies and their governments (including ours) know it.
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