Captured Russian Pilot Says He Was Ordered to Hit Civilian Targets

[Rogue Valley]

Captured Russian Pilot Says He Was Ordered to Hit Civilian Targets

Captured Russian pilot Krishtop Maxim.

3.11.22
Video of a Russian pilot apparently admitting he had been ordered to bomb a civilian target has been widely shown on Ukrainian media. During a press conference streamed by Interfax Ukraine, the pilot, who gave his name as Maxim Krishtop, described how he had learned of his orders, which he carried out before being shot down on March 6 and captured by Ukrainian forces. "In the process of completing the task, I realized that the target was not enemy military facilities, but residential buildings, peaceful people. "But I carried out the criminal order," said Krishtop, a lieutenant colonel and deputy commander of the 47th Aviation Regiment, adding that he was shot down by Ukraine's air defense system and taken prisoner. He said he carried out three bombing missions in Ukraine, some of which involved deploying FAB-500— Soviet-era air-dropped bombs with a high-explosive warhead. "I recognize the enormity of the crimes committed by me."

"I want to ask forgiveness from the entire Ukrainian people for the misfortune that we brought them," he said. "I will do everything in my power to end this war as quickly as possible, and bring those responsible for this genocide of Ukrainians to justice." "I also urge all military personnel of the Russian Federation to stop carrying out military crimes against the peaceful people of Ukraine. " He concluded by saying: "I think we have already lost this war." Krishtop appeared in a lineup of three Russian officers Ukraine claims to have captured and who were brought to speak to the media. The press conference comes amid numerous reports of low morale among Russian military staff and anecdotes of how many believed they were duped into fighting in Ukraine. Last week, unverified video showed a Russian prisoner of war claiming that Russia's military were shooting their own wounded. Other videos circulated by Ukrainian authorities apparently show Russian soldiers tearfully regretting their presence in the conflict. Last week, video shared on social media appeared to show a Russian soldier complaining that he and his colleagues had been abandoned as "cannon fodder" by their superiors.

Although Russian Lt. Col. Maxim was no doubt ordered to bomb civilian targets and did so, Ukraine should refrain from publishing such confession videos because they violate the Geneva Conventions. Suspected war criminals should be investigated by a neutral body such as the ICC. The ICC opened its investigation of current events in Ukraine on March 2. Ukraine recognized ICC authority in 2013. They could also be charged in Ukraine as every country has the power to prosecute war crimes in their national legal systems. This week, Germany and Spain announced they had opened investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Germany has in the past repeatedly prosecuted atrocities committed abroad, including the war in Syria. Alternatively, a special international tribunal could be set up by a number of participating countries.

Simply put, a war crime is a violation of internationally agreed laws or customs that govern what is acceptable and what is unacceptable during war. This can include: intentionally targeting civilians, using certain types of indiscriminate weapons, murdering or torturing prisoners of war, systematic slavery and rape and widespread destruction that is not militarily necessary. War crimes can include small and large scale campaigns, as well as individual attacks on both civilians and combatants. Along with war crimes, Russia has also been accused of committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine. A crime against humanity needs to be part of what is called a systematic attack on a civilian population which clearly is part of what is going on in Ukraine.

Very conveniently, the Russian constitution forbids the extradition of Russian citizens abroad to stand trial. Russia also is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. In the eyes of the state, Russians can murder, rape, and pillage abroad without legal consequence.

 

[oneworld2]

Captured Russian Pilot Says He Was Ordered to Hit Civilian Targets

Captured Russian pilot Krishtop Maxim.




Althoughb]Russian Lt. Col. Maxim was no doubt ordered to bomb civilian targets and did so]/b], Ukraine should refrain from publishing such confession videos because they violate the Geneva Conventions. Suspected war criminals should be investigated by a neutral body such as the ICC. The ICC opened its investigation of current events in Ukraine on March 2. Ukraine recognized ICC authority in 2013. They could also be charged in Ukraine as every country has the power to prosecute war crimes in their national legal systems. This week, Germany and Spain announced they had opened investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Germany has in the past repeatedly prosecuted atrocities committed abroad, including the war in Syria. Alternatively, a special international tribunal could be set up by a number of participating countries.

Simply put, a war crime is a violation of internationally agreed laws or customs that govern what is acceptable and what is unacceptable during war. This can include: intentionally targeting civilians, using certain types of indiscriminate weapons, murdering or torturing prisoners of war, systematic slavery and rape and widespread destruction that is not militarily necessary. War crimes can include small and large scale campaigns, as well as individual attacks on both civilians and combatants. Along with war crimes, Russia has also been accused of committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine. A crime against humanity needs to be part of what is called a systematic attack on a civilian population which clearly is part of what is going on in Ukraine.

Very conveniently, the Russian constitution forbids the extradition of Russian citizens abroad to stand trial. Russia also is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. In the eyes of the state, Russians can murder, rape, and pillage abroad without legal consequence.

Propaganda 101 ?

Parading prisoners in such a way is a war crime and what people say in such circumstances should be viewed in th context of the situation they are in. To claim he was " no doubt ordered to bomb civilian targets and did so" is speculation on your behalf. and refuses to take into account his situation. So, even though you are forced to admit that to use POW as propaganda tools is a war crime you STILL did it yourself

Ukraine, afaik, hasn't ratified the Rome Statute and the ICC was given " restricted " access to investigate Euromaidan killings. Without ratification they are not legally allowed to refer possible crimes

The USA also exempted itself from ICC jurisdiction and thus US soldiers can pretty much do as they please without any danger of ICC prosecution

The USA and other NATO members are assisting , as we speak, Arab authoritarians reigning down bombs on Yemen that are causing horrific civilian casualties with an estimated 380,0000 people dying as a result of the war