Ukraine’s military intelligence on Wednesday spread an alleged interception of communications by Russian armed forces, citing an alleged order to kill Ukrainian prisoners of war in the town of Popasna in the eastern Luhansk region, which bears the brunt of Russia’s renewed attack.
“The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine received audio interception of the occupiers’ conversation concerning the order to kill all prisoners of war by the Ukrainian armed forces who are being held captive in the Popasna region (Luhansk region),” he tweeted. Ukrainian military intelligence on Wednesday.
“This is a blatant war crime, a violation of international law and another striking example of the Russian military being murderers, rapists and robbers,” it added.
The alleged intercepted audio recording, released Wednesday, appears to contain the voices of unknown Russian soldiers, who say: “What the hell can I tell you? [expletive], [unintelligible] – You keep the oldest of them, and leave the rest forever. Leave them forever, damn it, so no one sees them anymore, including relatives. ”
CNN could not guarantee the authenticity of the recording and asked the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) previously circulated an alleged interception of communications by a Russian ground commander who said Russian planes planned to “level everything off the ground” around Azovstal, a steel plant that is a redoubt for Ukrainian defenders in the besieged port city of Mariupol.
On Thursday, in a meeting with his defense minister, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was no need to storm the plant, but it should be cordoned off and those inside should be offered a chance to surrender.
“Block this industrial zone so that a fly cannot pass through it,” he said.
The SBU also released audio from alleged intercepted radio traffic, exposing Russian soldiers discussing the killing and rape of civilians, reinforcing allegations of war crimes by Russian troops.
The German Foreign Intelligence Service has also intercepted alleged radio communications in which Russian soldiers talk about shooting at soldiers and civilians in Ukraine. Military observers also note the tendency of Russian troops to use insecure communications in Ukraine.
Speaking to CNN on Wednesday, Sergei Haidai, head of the Luhansk regional military administration, said 80 percent of his region was under Russian control and that if Ukraine did not resist, “Russia will certainly not stop here and will I insist further. ”
“It simply came to our notice then [Russians] are spreading a lot, “he said.” We have established our protection in many cities. They are trying to surround our troops, there are a lot of nasty things going on … but so far they have not succeeded. We are doing well to destroy their equipment. “
Haidai continued that “We have a very serious situation here. The whole territory of Luhansk was shelled. There is no safe city … We understand that the Russian government will move forward and destroy everything in its path. So what we’re doing is trying to evacuate everyone as much as possible. ”
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