Russian troops use civilians as human shields in Ukraine's Pokrovsk, investigation finds
Russian commanders ordered invading troops to use civilians as human shields during an assault on the Donetsk Oblast city of Pokrovsk, intercepted radio communications show, Ukraine's Security Service and Donetsk regional prosecutors reported.
At around 2:30 p.m. on November 10, a Russian Armed Forces unit commander radioed subordinates who had entered the city to hold a detained man, woman and 13-year-old child in front during "clearance" operations in residential areas, the prosecutors said.
The SBU identified the unit as the 1st Motorized Rifle Battalion of Russia's 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment, which attacked Pokrovsk's southeastern outskirts.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation to determine the incident's circumstances, participants and the civilians' fate, vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
The actions violate Article 28 of the Geneva Convention on civilian protections during war and qualify as a war crime, officials said.
Investigators launched a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code for war crimes.
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