Shooting of Ukrainian prisoners and blocking of border: highlights of February 18

Shooting of Ukrainian prisoners

On the evening of February 17, Russians posted a video online showing the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. Some of them were recognized by their relatives: these were Ukrainian defenders who could not be evacuated from the Zenit position in Avdiivka.

Also, on the morning of February 18, Russian servicemen shot two Ukrainian prisoners of war near the village of Vesele, Bakhmut district.

Donetsk Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into both cases. The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime, law enforcement officials emphasized.

Demonstration for the release of Azov soldiers from captivity

On February 18, relatives of prisoners of war and activists held a weekly demonstration on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv. They want to remind that the defenders of Mariupol are still in Russian captivity.

Yahodyn - Dorohusk is blocked

As of the evening of February 18, the participation of farmers from other European countries in the Polish protest on the border with Ukraine was not confirmed.

However, the Poles blocked the roads in front of the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on their own. Despite the protesters' promises to allow perishable, dangerous, or humanitarian cargo to pass through, not a single truck has crossed the border since 9 a.m.

In addition, the protesters tried to block the railroad tracks at the Dorohusk station. However, the Polish police prevented this.

20 Days in Mariupol wins at the BAFTA

The Ukrainian film 20 Days in Mariupol, directed by Mstislav Chernov, has won the Best Documentary Award at the British BAFTA Awards.

The film 20 Days in Mariupol depicts the events in the city of Mariupol, surrounded by Russian troops, in February-March 2022. In the Ukrainian film market, the film became the highest-grossing documentary.

The film was also nominated for an Academy Award and won the Tim Hetherington Award, which is given for humanitarian reporting. Chernov also received a Pulitzer Prize and a Directors Guild of America Award for his work in Mariupol.

Other important news of the day:

• The Danish authorities have decided to transfer all the artillery they have to Ukraine.
• During the 4 months of the active phase of the defense operation in the Avdiivka sector, total losses of Russian troops reached over 47,000 soldiers.
• The number of deaths as a result of Russian air strikes on Kupyansk increased.
• For the first time, the Russians were able to establish air superiority, which allowed them to capture Avdiivka, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
• Occupiers are massively connecting residents of the occupied territories to “Russian world TV”, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported.