KEY POINTS

  • The Ukrainian soldiers were identifiable by their flag patches and blue armbands
  • The Russian convoy was withdrawing from Kyiv when they were ambushed 
  • A BMD-2 infantry fighting vehicle used by Russian airborne units was also seen 

A shocking video has emerged showing Ukrainian forces shooting and killing a Russian soldier who lay wounded on the road in a pool of blood. The Russian was heard gasping for breath before the Ukrainian pulled the trigger on him multiple times.

"He’s still alive. Film these marauders. Look, he’s still alive. He’s gasping," a Ukrainian man says as a Russian soldier with a jacket pulled over his head gasps for breath. The video, verified by New York Times, shows the soldier pumping two bullets into the wounded man. The Russian keeps moving and the soldier shoots him again, and he stops.

"These are not even humans," a Ukrainian soldier says in the video as he navigates through the wrecked vehicles. He adds that two Russian lieutenants have been taken as prisoners.

The Ukrainian soldiers were identifiable by their flag patches and blue armbands, and "Glory to Ukraine" cries. Though their unit is unclear, a man is heard addressing them as "Belgravia lads." The New York Times added that they were referring to a housing development called Belgravia, located a few hundred yards from the incident.

The report added that the footage, doing rounds in Telegram, was filmed at a location north of the village of Dmytrivka, around seven miles southwest of Bucha, on March 30. The Russian convoy was withdrawing from small towns west of Kyiv when they were ambushed by the Ukrainian unit.

Three other Russian men were also seen near the one who got shot. One is seen dead with a head wound and hands tied behind his back. All are seen clad in camouflage and white armbands commonly worn by Russian troops. Some people were missing jackets, shoes and helmets. Remnants of equipment and a BMD-2, an infantry fighting vehicle used by Russian airborne units, can also be spotted.

Oz Katerji, a freelance journalist, took to Twitter to share the images of the destroyed column on April 2. According to him, the Russians had been ambushed 48 hours earlier.

A Ukrainian news agency too acknowledged the ambush calling it the work of "Georgian Legion,” a paramilitary unit of Georgian volunteers that formed to fight on behalf of Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry also tweeted about the destruction of the Russian convoy, calling it “precise work” by Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian forces say they have retaken some territory from Russian troops, including the village of Mala Rogan on the outskirts of second city Kyiv
Ukrainian forces say they have retaken some territory from Russian troops, including the village of Mala Rogan on the outskirts of second city Kyiv AFP / Aris Messinis