Russia has officially deployed a battalion formed of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to the frontline in Ukraine, further confirming a myriad of apparent Russian violations of the Geneva Convention on POWs. — Ukrinform.

Russia has officially deployed a battalion formed of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to the frontline in Ukraine, further confirming a myriad of apparent Russian violations of the Geneva Convention on POWs.

Russian state-controlled outlets reported on December 28 that soldiers from the “Bogdan Khmelnitsky” battalion, formed of Ukrainian POWs and subordinated to the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) Ministry of Internal Affairs “Kaskad” formation, took part in their first engagement against Ukrainian forces near Urozhaine, western Donetsk region.

  • Cyborganism@lemmy.caEnglish
    223·
    10 months ago

    I don’t know why I feel like I’m being criticized.

    I’m not saying that what’s reported isn’t possible or isn’t real. I just don’t know how that tactic would work.

    Everyone’s given me some pretty good suggestions though. So I better understand how they could have pulled it off.

    All I know is there’s got to be some cruelty involved to convince POWs to do that.

    • Tosti@feddit.nlEnglish
      16·
      10 months ago

      A lot of cruelty actually.

      Earlier in the war a Wagner fighter who had surrendered was traded back. Wagner then posted a video online showing them killing him with a sledgehammer. Just to convey the message to other fighters that surrender is not an option.

      In the mean time the soldiers used as barrier forces (that prevent soldiers from retreating) are Islamic extremists under control of Kadyrov. Look him up, remember all the joyful things Isis did in Syria and then imagine these are your “allies”.

      So much cruelty…

        • WoahWoah@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          10 months ago

          That wasn’t the first time. The sledgehammer has become an icon for the ultra violence of Wagner and by extension the Russian military.

          And rest assured, they are tortured a long time before that. And the hammer isn’t usually used on the head first.

          So, again. If you’re given the option of leaving that, and they tell you to run towards your family and homelands instead of being beaten to death slowly with a hammer after already being tortured and starved for months, you might be surprised how quickly you, too, would capitulate.