Russian POWs torture video horrifies the Kremlin

Those involved in the torture of Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine must bear full responsibility for their crimes, Kremlin's official spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, RIA Novosti reports.

The Kremlin saw the footage of torture of captured Russian soldiers. All those facts will be verified and investigated into, he noted.

"The Investigative Committee is looking into this. This is horrendous footage, they need a legal assessment, and those who took part in that need to be called into criminal account," Peskov said.

The extremely disturbing video allegedly showing Ukrainian military men torturing Russian POWs appeared on the Internet.

The head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered to analyse the video materials.

The video shows POW's from the Donbas, lying prostrate on the ground [in a parking lot]. They are all shot in the leg(s), some have had their femur shattered by the gunshot and the leg is obviously broken. Others are quite clearly the victim of severe physical beatings. Some have soiled themselves, all are covered in blood — some have very bright blood, indicating arterial bleeding; they look in shock and pain. The camera then shows more POW's arriving and they are immediately shot in the leg by these inhumane criminals. The first POW's that is "Interviewed” in the video is asked "who is your Officer”?. The poor fellow can only mumble in response as he has been so badly beaten up, swollen lips, teeth missing, probably broken jaw. The second guy is asked where he is from and he replies "Armenia."

We can not post the video for ethical reasons.

Ukraine will conduct 'most serious investigation' into the video footage allegedly showing Ukrainian military torturing Russian prisoners of war, Aleksei Arestovich, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said.

"What is happening there [on the video] has signs of a war crime, which has neither a statute of limitations nor an amnesty either in Ukrainian or international law. There should be no illusions about this. Torture of prisoners is against the law of military honor and is a war crime. <…> There will be the most serious investigation held," the official said.

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin also instructed to conduct investigation into the footage:

"Reportedly, the illegal actions took place at a base of Ukrainian nationalists in the Kharkiv region," he said.