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Russian Troops Use Civilians as Human Shields in Pokrovsk, SBU Reports
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has revealed that Russian troops committed another war crime in Donetsk, utilizing civilians as human shields during a recent assault on Pokrovsk.
According to the investigation, unveiled on November 18, Russian forces attempted to seize control of the city by advancing through its southeastern outskirts, using local residents to protect themselves from potential Ukrainian fire.
The SBU's findings suggest that the 1st Motorized Rifle Battalion from Russia's 506th Motorized Rifle Brigade was involved in the operation. During the battle in residential areas, Russian soldiers detained a man, a woman, and a 13-year-old child. The captives were then forced to walk ahead of the troops as they cleared buildings in the area, making them targets for any incoming fire.
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“The use of civilians in this way is a direct violation of Article 28 of the Geneva Convention, which protects civilians during war,” the SBU stated, categorizing these actions as a war crime.
In response to this new evidence, the SBU has launched a criminal investigation under Article 438, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses war crimes. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify those responsible for the violation of international law.
This latest incident highlights the continued pattern of illegal tactics employed by Russian forces, putting civilian lives at risk while violating established conventions meant to protect non-combatants.
Earlier, for the first time in Ukraine's history, a member of the Russian military was sentenced to life imprisonment for the execution of a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier who had been captured.
