Western Reader
A video has emerged that suggests the 30th Mechanized Brigade in Ukraine may have committed a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The footage, which contains graphic content, allegedly shows a drone dropping explosives on a Russian soldier who had surrendered.
The video, shared by the Telegram channel “Aerobomber” and translated from Ukrainian as “We destroy a horde of bastards with drones”, provides a chilling aerial view of the battlefield.
It appears to depict a drone hovering over a lone soldier in an open field and subsequently dropping an explosive device that injures him.
30th Mechanised Brigade continue destroy Orcs near Bakhmut Donetsk region
This Ork came to Ukraine with weapons in order to kill and destroy our cities.
After dropping the drone, he asked to “mercy” him, but he would rather stay at home pic.twitter.com/FMD6LwfAIv
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) September 21, 2023
After an edit in the video, the same soldier can be seen lying on the ground, waving his hands in surrender and pointing to a makeshift tourniquet on his leg.
Despite his obvious surrender, the drone shockingly drops another explosive. The unarmed soldier tries to flee the blast radius, but the explosive detonates.
In a disturbing continuation, the soldier is seen desperately waving his arms in surrender once again, only for the drone to drop a third explosive device on his position.
This relentless attack on a surrendering soldier raises serious concerns about the conduct of the 30th Mechanized Brigade and their adherence to the rules of war.
According to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, such actions constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts.
The conventions state that it is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or is hors de combat. Furthermore, the wounded and sick must be collected and cared for by the party to the conflict which has them in its power.
Horrible Footage!! Ukraine Drone Attack, Russia tries to save itself after the explosion, Bakhmut#Bakhmut #Zaporizhzhia #UkraineFrontLines #ukrainedrone #Canada #RussiaUkraineWar #UkrainianArmy #Bakhmut #Kyiv #Ukraine
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https://t.co/IkrKffVLOp— Teisha Pomphrey (@PomphreyTe98223) September 25, 2023
Some argue that because the drone is unmanned, it cannot detain the soldier, and therefore, he cannot surrender. However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) clarifies that detainment is not a requirement for surrender.
The ICRC’s “Customary International Humanitarian Law Volume I” states, “The rule of surrender does not require the opposing force to detain surrendered persons as prisoners of war (although they can if they wish).”
As the United States continues to financially support Ukraine in this war, it is crucial that investigations are conducted to ensure adherence to the Geneva Convention.
This shocking footage serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of war and the importance of upholding international humanitarian laws. It emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and compliance with the rules of war, even in the midst of conflict.
This article appeared in StatesmanPost and has been published here with permission.
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