Controversial Footage of Military Deaths Highlights ‘War of Perception’ Between Russia, Ukraine

Controversial Footage of Military Deaths Highlights ‘War of Perception’ Between Russia, Ukraine
A serviceman checks his machine-gun in a shelter on the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants at frontline with Ukrainian government forces in Slavyanoserbsk, Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, on Jan. 25, 2022. Alexei Alexandrov/AP Photo
Adam Morrow
Updated:

Video footage that appears to show unarmed Russian soldiers being summarily executed by Ukrainian troops has sparked tit-for-tat claims of “war crimes” between the two warring sides.

According to Moscow, the footage clearly shows Ukrainian forces killing Russian troops who had already surrendered. But Kyiv says its soldiers merely acted in “self-defense” after being fired upon.