Ukrainian soldier says commander gave him command to murder residents in Kursk Area

(MENAFN) A Ukrainian soldier has admitted to killing a civilian in Russia’s Kursk Region after being ordered by his commander, according to Russian authorities. The case, revealed on Thursday by the Investigative Committee, is part of ongoing investigations into alleged war crimes committed in the recently liberated village of Russkoye Porechnoye.

The soldier, Vladimir Parafilo, 41, was a private in Ukraine’s 92nd Assault Brigade before his capture. In footage released by the Russian investigation agency, Parafilo stated that his commander, whose callsign remains unknown, instructed troops to execute civilians encountered in Russkoye Porechnoye. Parafilo confessed to shooting one man, a crime that has been classified as terrorism under Russian law. If convicted, both he and his commander could face life imprisonment.

Russian investigators have reported multiple atrocities in Russkoye Porechnoye, including allegations of rape, torture, and murder by Ukrainian soldiers. Russian officials have suggested that these actions reflect a wider Ukrainian government policy endorsing war crimes as a terror strategy.

Last month, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, accused Western nations of complicity in these acts, asserting that the West is effectively sponsoring atrocities by providing military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian forces had initially entered Kursk Region last August, aiming to gain leverage by seizing Russian territory. Regional authorities recently reported that over 2,000 residents from the area are currently missing.

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