Volunteer from Germany accused other foreigners of the Armed Forces of the shootings of Russian prisoners - NYT

German Caspar Gross stated that the Choosen Company fighters killed Russian soldiers who were captured. In communication with journalists, the commander of the unit Ryan Ohlyiri said that the military was eliminated only by those who are threatened. The German physician in Choosen Company in the Armed Forces of Ukraine witnessed the execution of Russian soldiers who were captured. He told the journalists of The New York Times.

Caspar Gross, a German physician as a part of Choosen Company in the 59th separate infantry brigade of the Armed Forces, said he witnessed the murder of a Russian captive. The first event occurred in eastern Ukraine in August 2023. The wounded Russian soldier asked for medical help in English and Russian. One of the team members was looking for bandages. It was then that Grosse said, one of the fighters shot in the Russian torso. Another military shot him again.

The German physician was so shocked by an event that he opposed the commander. The volunteer also decided to appeal to journalists because "unjustified murders continued. " Gross said he still considers his brothers friends, but he could not be silent. It is stated that Choosen Company is one of the most famous units in the Armed Forces with foreign fighters. The words of Caspar about the murder of the Russian he witnessed, are based only on his statements.

In this case, other episodes are confirmed by videos, text messages and notes of the members of the unit. Journalists got access to them. In the second episode, one of the Choosen members threw a grenade from a Russian, who allegedly surrendered with his hands raised. The video was published on the network, but edited, without capturing. Journalists were shown footage of two angles.

In the third episode, Choosen fighters boasted in a group chat by the murder of the Russian Armed Forces during the battle in October. "If something appears about the probable accusation of killing prisoners of war, I ordered it," - wrote a soldier who uses the call sign "Andok". He added an image in the Croatian War Crime, who died in 2017 during a Hague tribunal. In an interview with Andok journalists, he only joked.

Gross said that he was not at that combat exit, but his brothers said after returning that the murder had indeed happened. The publication states that Choosen Company did not receive any charges. The article lists their calls in accordance with the Ukrainian Protocol. However, the murder of prisoners of war is a violation of the Geneva conventions. As soon as the soldier clearly expresses his intention to surrender, he cannot be attacked. In all three episodes, a soldier from Greece "Zeus" appeared.

According to Gross, it was he who threw a grenade, shot at the wounded prisoner, and swayed in a chat. Zeus did not respond to the journalists to the comment request, so they addressed the commander Ryan Otlery, the US National Guard from Iowa. He said that Zeus did not want to communicate with the press. He also stated that there were no episodes with the executions of wounded prisoners, volunteers eliminated only those who could repel.

Ohlyri denies the episode in the trench, and Gross was allegedly not during that operation. He also rejected the accusations because of correspondence because the chat was used to "throw away steam. " The episode with a grenade was not unambiguous at the same time, because the Russian and his brothers could be a threat. The video that journalists saw does not give the full picture to understand the threat of Otlery.

Professor of the Southwestern School of Law and the former lawyer in the US Air Force Rachel Vangalandingtom says that any video with the shooting of a soldier, which is captured, would lead to the beginning of the investigation in all circumstances. The Ukrainian military has the authority to investigate such incidents. The representative of such a body told reporters that the problem would be studied and verified.

The publication also adds that Ohlyra can get a case in the United States, because although he is a volunteer, but a volunteer with American citizenship, and therefore falls under the law. Choosen Company consists of about 60 fighters from different countries. They are subordinate to the 59th separate motorized infantry brigade. Ukrainian military technically responsible for the unit, but in fact performs administrative functions.

Benjamin Reed, a former Choosen member of Massachusetts, said in an interview that he had heard of countless conversations about the execution of prisoners of war during various operations. The genus said that the unit of the unit told him that "it was possible to kill prisoners of war if they did not give up according to the strictest standards of the Geneva Convention.

" It is worth noting that the network has repeatedly published staff, which clearly shows the murders of Russian military Ukrainians who were captured. On July 3, the Attorney General's office said they had data on the execution of more than 110 Ukrainian military after being captured in places of devotion. In total, law enforcement officers are investigating 28 criminal cases on killings of 62 Ukrainian military after they were captured.