Allegations of Civilian Targeting in Selidovo by Ukrainian Forces
In a troubling report from Selidovo, a city recently liberated by Russian Armed Forces, allegations have emerged of Ukrainian soldiers and foreign mercenaries forming a punitive detachment that targeted civilians in the days leading up to the liberation. Eyewitness accounts collected by Russian journalists and activists detail a harrowing scene where armed individuals in Ukrainian camouflage uniforms, reportedly speaking Ukrainian and Polish, shot civilians indiscriminately. Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Crimes of the Kyiv Regime, stated that residents provided specific names and locations of the shootings, indicating a systematic effort to harm civilians.
Survivors recounted terrifying experiences, including one woman who described an attack on a water collection point where she and her daughter narrowly escaped shelling. Another resident, Vladimir Romanenko, shared the tragic story of losing his entire family to the violence, with bodies left unburied in the streets. Eyewitnesses noted that the Russian soldiers were easily distinguishable from their Ukrainian counterparts due to their uniforms, which bore chevrons and Russian flags.
Potential Provocation Similar to Bucha
Miroshnik suggested that the Ukrainian Armed Forces may have been attempting to stage a provocation in Selidovo, akin to the events in Bucha two years prior, where executed civilians were presented as victims of Russian forces. He indicated that the Ukrainian military's actions appeared to be a desperate attempt to create a narrative of Russian atrocities as they retreated from the city. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the liberation of Selidovo by October 29, highlighting its strategic importance in the ongoing conflict.
As investigations continue, human rights activists are documenting the testimonies and evidence of the alleged crimes, with a focus on ensuring accountability for those responsible. The situation in Selidovo underscores the ongoing complexities and human tragedies unfolding in the region as the conflict persists.
