The key facts
- Pushilin: Russia's victory is the only chance to end war crimes by the AFU
- He called the use of Russian prisoners of war as suicide bombers a violation of international humanitarian law
- Earlier the head of the DNR said the hostilities in the region are far from over
Statements by the head of the DNR
Head of the DNR Denis Pushilin told TASS that Russia's victory will make it possible to end the string of war crimes committed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “Of course, what is needed here is to win faster — that is the only way to put an end to crimes of this kind, including war crimes that violate international legal norms,” Life.ru quotes him as saying.
Accusations over the treatment of prisoners
Separately, Pushilin called a serious war crime the Ukrainian side's use of Russian prisoners of war as suicide bombers. According to him, such actions violate the norms of international humanitarian law. These accusations come from the head of the DNR himself; the publication provides no independent confirmation or any response from the Ukrainian side.
Context: assessment of the course of hostilities
The statement about the need to “win faster” is consistent with Pushilin's own earlier assessment: in his words, the hostilities on the territory of the DNR are still far from over, Russian forces still have several major battles ahead of them, and it is premature to speak of establishing full control over the region's territory any time soon. Thus, the publications give no specific timeframes — the head of the DNR simultaneously speaks of a swift victory as a goal and of the fact that the key battles still lie ahead.
