A blogger affiliated with Ukraine's
Right Sector paramilitary movement has posted several photos of a member
of the Donbass militia with his index fingers cut/shot off. The
gruesome images come days after the release of a report by Amnesty
International calling on the EU to put pressure on Kiev to punish those
responsible for the torture of POWs.
On
Saturday, a Facebook user named 'Yashka Tsygankov' posted several
graphic photos of what appears to be a captured fighter of the anti-Kiev
militia in eastern Ukraine, with his left and right index fingers shot
and/or cut off.
Accompanying the gruesome images is some
bragging by Tsygankov about a recent operation allegedly carried out by
the Ukrainian military against a militia checkpoint. "This was good
training for an offensive toward Donetsk…We killed them all, apart
from one. Seems to be a local, as of recently."
What makes the post somewhat dubious is Tsygankov's claims
about Georgian and American support in the operation. Noting that the
operation was led by Right Sector volunteers, the Dnepr-1 territorial
battalion and the 93rd Brigade of the Ukrainian army, Tsygankov also
noted that Georgian and American personnel and equipment was involved
in the battle. The user stated that the Georgian sniper "worked great,"
while voicing his "thanks to American guidance systems, which provide
excellent guidance." Tsygankov also claimed that American spotters
participated in the operation.
Удачный
тренинг наступления на Донецк. Для начала на блокпост. Оказалось не
блокпост а укрепрайон. Всех убили. Один здался. Типа местный, типа
недавно. Типа друг пригласил неизвестно куда а оказалось что надо стоять
на позиции 5 дней.
Командир подразделения 5 бригады республиканской гвардии.
Будем менять на Киборгов.
В бою ранен Монах командир 2го взвода 7 бат ДУКа. Осколок гранаты в шею и пулевое в руку. Уже в больничке.
Три машины прострелены, нужна помощь по ремонту. Спасибо грузинскому спецназу, их снайпера отработали супер! Спасибо американским системам наведения, навели шикарно. Штурмовики, група прикрытия и авто поддержка состояли из подразделений ПС ДУК 7ой бат, Днепр-1, 93ая бригада, грузинский спецназ снайпера, американские наводчики на американских хаммерах.
Кто следит за новостями днр скиньте в коментах инфу по их потерям за сегодня под донецком, интересно жеж))
Командир подразделения 5 бригады республиканской гвардии.
Будем менять на Киборгов.
В бою ранен Монах командир 2го взвода 7 бат ДУКа. Осколок гранаты в шею и пулевое в руку. Уже в больничке.
Три машины прострелены, нужна помощь по ремонту. Спасибо грузинскому спецназу, их снайпера отработали супер! Спасибо американским системам наведения, навели шикарно. Штурмовики, група прикрытия и авто поддержка состояли из подразделений ПС ДУК 7ой бат, Днепр-1, 93ая бригада, грузинский спецназ снайпера, американские наводчики на американских хаммерах.
Кто следит за новостями днр скиньте в коментах инфу по их потерям за сегодня под донецком, интересно жеж))
Commenting
on the Facebook post, independent Ukrainian journalist Anatoliy Shari
stated that he has his doubts about its authenticity, noting that the
post appeared "just on time" to confirm a recent report Amnesty
International criticizing Ukraine's treatment of prisoners of war.
Moreover, Shari voiced his skepticism about Tsygankov's claims
of Georgian and American involvement. The journalist noted that it may
be possible that the Right Sector may have created a 'fake' piece
of information for the sole purpose of repudiating it as false later.
Nonetheless, the journalist believes that the misinformation campaign
may backfire on the Ukrainian radicals, with Donbass residents and
militia coming to genuinely believe that POWs have their fingers cut
off, which doesn't seem unlikely, given the long list of war crimes the
Ukrainian army and its volunteer nationalist units have been accused
of committing over the past year in the war in eastern Ukraine.
Whether
or not the post and the accompanying photos are genuine, it's worth
pointing out that the commentary to the post is positively toxic in its
gleeful and bloodthirsty tone. Users praised the brave warriors of the
volunteer units, while laughing about the gold and blue color of the
scotch used to tape the injured man's hands together, calling it
"beautiful" and "stylish." One user commented that "he won't be able
to squeeze the trigger anymore," with another noting that "he doesn't
have his fingers but he will live. Let him be thankful that his head was
not cut off. This is humanism."
The Amnesty Report
Earlier this week, Amnesty International released a report, notable for the fact that it admits that Kiev too is responsible for the abuse and torture of prisoners of war. The report calls on both sides to "put an end to these crimes," adding that "Ukrainian authorities must investigate all allegations of war crimes and other abuses" and "bring to justice all those responsible for perpetrating such heinous acts."
Among the main criticisms aimed at the Donbass militia is their alleged propensity for carrying out summary executions. Amnesty noted that the situation surrounding militia fighters is complicated by the fact that their ranks include a variety of fighting groups.
On
the Kiev side, Amnesty singled out the Right Sector specifically,
calling one report by a former prisoner of the group "especially
disturbing." The rights organization stated that their evidence showed
that the group held not just military prisoners, but also civilians, who
were held as hostages for ransom, brutally tortured in the process.
Amnesty noted that it has yet to receive a response from the Ukrainian
government regarding its complaint about the Right Sector's atrocities.
Commenting on the report in an interview for France's Liberation
Magazine, Amnesty senior advisor Joanne Mariner stated that the "acts
of torture identified by Amnesty International are only the tip of the
iceberg."
Asked whether the report and its revelation of Ukrainian war crimes should come as a shock to Europe, Mariner noted that she hopes so. "It would be disastrous if Europe [continued to support] Kiev with knowledge of these facts. The Western media have long focused their attention on the violence committed by pro-Russian separatists, and the content of the report should come as a shock."
Ultimately, Mariner noted that if Kiev "is slow to act in taking punitive measures against the perpetrators, the European Union, which has supported the government of Petro Poroshenko since the beginning of hostilities, can intervene diplomatically," exerting various forms of pressure on its ally.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International released a report, notable for the fact that it admits that Kiev too is responsible for the abuse and torture of prisoners of war. The report calls on both sides to "put an end to these crimes," adding that "Ukrainian authorities must investigate all allegations of war crimes and other abuses" and "bring to justice all those responsible for perpetrating such heinous acts."
Among the main criticisms aimed at the Donbass militia is their alleged propensity for carrying out summary executions. Amnesty noted that the situation surrounding militia fighters is complicated by the fact that their ranks include a variety of fighting groups.
Asked whether the report and its revelation of Ukrainian war crimes should come as a shock to Europe, Mariner noted that she hopes so. "It would be disastrous if Europe [continued to support] Kiev with knowledge of these facts. The Western media have long focused their attention on the violence committed by pro-Russian separatists, and the content of the report should come as a shock."
Ultimately, Mariner noted that if Kiev "is slow to act in taking punitive measures against the perpetrators, the European Union, which has supported the government of Petro Poroshenko since the beginning of hostilities, can intervene diplomatically," exerting various forms of pressure on its ally.
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