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Agence France-Presse

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced Russian “beasts” after a video appeared to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner, prompting international outrage.
The emergence of the disturbing footage, which was unable to be independently verified, sparked fury in Ukraine, with Kyiv saying Russia is “worse than ISIS” – a reference to Islamic State group.
The European Union pledged to hold war criminals to account, while a UN mission in Ukraine said it was “appalled”.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine also pointed to another video that is spreading online, saying it “shows mutilated bodies of apparent Ukrainian POWs”.


It was not clear when or where the video was filmed. Ukrainian authorities said they were trying to identify the victim.
Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of killing prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine more than a year ago.
A number of videos alleging to show POW killings have made the rounds on the internet over the past year.
Following the emergence of a new video, Zelensky said in an address posted to social media that “the world must see” what he called an “execution of a Ukrainian captive”.
“There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill”, the grim-faced Ukrainian leader said. “We won’t forget anything, nor will we forgive murderers.”
Ukraine faces ‘now or never’ moment to hit back at Russia as offensive looms
Zelensky urged world leaders to act and help Ukraine defeat Russia as Kyiv forces prepare a counteroffensive after a months-long stalemate on the battlefield.
“We need to act now!” the Ukrainian president said.
The video, which lasts around one minute 40 seconds, shows a masked man in camouflage decapitating another man in uniform. After the screams stop, other voices are heard encouraging the attacker in Russian.
After the man is decapitated, a voice is heard saying that the head should be sent “to the commander”. The victim’s vest bearing the Ukrainian trident and a skull can also be seen in the footage.




The SBU security service said it had opened a probe into the video. “The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine is appalled by particularly gruesome videos posted on social media,” it said in a statement.
“One of the videos shows a brutal execution of a man who appears to be a Ukrainian prisoner of war, while the other one shows mutilated bodies of apparent Ukrainian POWs.”
The EU said that, if confirmed, the footage was “yet another brutal reminder about the inhumane nature of the Russian aggression”.
“The EU reiterates its firm commitment to holding to account all perpetrators and accomplices of war crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war,” EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said. Brussels did not have information on the veracity of the video, she added.
Ukraine faces ‘now or never’ moment to hit back at Russia as offensive looms
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “First of all, the authenticity of this horrible footage needs to be verified. We live in a world of fakes.”
Top Ukrainian officials renewed calls to remove Russia from the UN Security Council where it is a permanent member. Russia holds the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of April.
“It’s absurd that Russia, which is worse than ISIS, is presiding over the UNSC,” wrote Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to Zelensky, warned against “any attempts to find a compromise with the terrorists”. Russia had to be isolated from “the rest of the world”, he said.


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Ukraine war

Ukraine: Zelensky blasts Russian ‘beasts’ over beheading video of prisoner

Following the emergence of a disturbing new video, a grim-faced President Zelensky vows: “We won’t forget anything, nor will we forgive murderers.” Photo: dpa

Leaked US documents cast doubt on Ukraine’s military capacity

Ukrainian servicemen fire a Soviet-era rocket launcher at Russian positions in the Kharkiv area in February. Photo: AP

Local residents carry collected scrap metal near a destroyed military plane in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

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Remains of a building destroyed during fighting in the Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AFP

A Ukrainian service member is seen in a trench at a position on a front line, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, near the city of Bakhmut. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian service members ride tanks near the front line city of Chasiv Yar. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian prisoners of war react after a swap, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, at an unknown location. Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War/Handout via Reuters

US officials searching for source of intelligence leak suspect an American is responsible

The US Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia on Thursday. Photo: Reuters 

The Russian embassy in Washington. Photo: AFP 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Kobi Gideon / GPO / dpa 

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A volunteer inspects remains of a residential house damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP 

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Children’s toys on a fence at the train station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine on Saturday. Photo: AFP

News

World

Russia & Central Asia

The emergence of the disturbing footage has sparked outrage in Ukraine and around the world
It is not clear when or where the video was filmed – authorities are trying to identify the victim


The emergence of the disturbing footage – that appears to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner – has sparked outrage in Ukraine and around the world.


Ukraine: Zelensky blasts Russian ‘beasts’ over beheading video of prisoner

The emergence of the disturbing footage has sparked outrage in Ukraine and around the world It is not clear when or where the video was filmed – authorities are trying to identify the victim

The emergence of the disturbing footage has sparked outrage in Ukraine and around the world

It is not clear when or where the video was filmed – authorities are trying to identify the victim