KYIV: On Friday, the United Nations said it was deeply concerned by what it said were summary executions of prisoners of war by Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.
Several days later, Kyiv accused Russian forces of killing a captured Ukrainian serviceman who was filmed saying Glory to Ukraine before being shot dead.
Matilda Bogner, the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring MissionUN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said her organisation had recently recorded killings by both sides.
We are deeply concerned about the summary execution of up to 25 Russian prisoners of war and persons hors de combat by the Ukrainian armed forces, which we have documented, according to Bogner at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.
She said this was often perpetrated immediately upon capture on the battlefield.
She said that we are not aware of any prosecution of the perpetrators, although we are aware of ongoing investigations by the Ukrainian authorities into five cases involving 22 victims.
Bogner expressed concern over the alleged executions of 15 Ukrainian prisoners by Russian armed forces after their capture.
She said that the Wagner mercenary group, which claims to be leading Russia's assault for Bakhmut - the longest and bloodiest battle of the war - was responsible for 11 of those killings.
Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of mistreating prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded more than a year ago.
In response to the UN report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyiv said it was unacceptable to hold the victim of aggression responsible.