Russian forces increase executions of prisoners and use chemical weapons – ISW

The Russian occupiers have recently increased the number of systematic executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). They also continue to use chemical weapons.

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

On October 21, Ukrainian officials stated that Russian forces executed two unarmed and bound Ukrainian POWs near Selydove in Donetsk region on October 18 by shooting them at close range. Analysts have assessed that the Russian army has increased the systematic execution of Ukrainian POWs in recent times. This violates the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which prohibits inhumane treatment and execution.

Additionally, on October 20, a Russian military blogger posted a video and openly claimed that Russian troops are using chloropicrin (a pesticide that damages the lungs) against Ukrainian forces.

Analysts noted that the U.S. Department of State reported as early as May 1 that Russian forces were using chloropicrin and riot control agents (RCA), violating the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Russia is a signatory.

Ukrainian officials previously reported that the Russian occupiers have increasingly been equipping grenades with chloropicrin.

"The evident systematic commission of war crimes across the entire theater of operations suggests a low level of discipline within the Russian forces, and that Russian field commanders are doing nothing to prevent their subordinates from engaging in such criminal behavior - or may even be encouraging it. There is no evidence that Russia is holding personnel accountable for reported violations of the laws of war," the ISW report states.

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