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Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian military commander POW claims forces were told 'Nazis' had overtaken Ukraine

Russian Lt. Col. Astakhov Dmitry Mikhailovich, a Ukraine POW, tells reporters: 'This is genocide'

Stephanie Pagones By Stephanie Pagones Fox News
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A Russian military commander and prisoner of war in Ukraine said he and his forces were led to believe they were invading the country because "nationalists, Nazis have seized power," according to a video that surfaced Monday. 

Russian Lt. Col. Astakhov Dmitry Mikhailovich was flanked by two badly bruised men as he said they were told in Russia "that Ukraine's territory is dominated by fascist's regime," according to video shared by Ukraine’s News Channel 24, via a translation from the New York Post. 

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"Nationalists, Nazi's have seized power," the commander went on, about what he and his troops were allegedly told. 

He added: "You are in a tense situation going against your own commander. But this is a genocide. The people are just killed."

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He said he would go to jail or do "whatever we deserve."

"We’re ready for everything."

He likely made the allegations under a certain degree of duress and his statements cannot be verified.

Jonathan Turley, a legal analyst and Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, previously questioned Ukraine’s use of images of prisoners of war possibly violating the Geneva Conventions.

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"It is not clear who is in possession or took the videotapes of these POWs. Many citizens are joining the front lines in this fight. However, as difficult as it is in this fluid battlefield, Ukraine is under an obligation to seek adherence to the conventions," he wrote in a blog post titled, "Does the Filming of the Russian POWs Violate the Geneva Conventions?" 

  • Ukrainian settlement of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region
    Image 1 of 8

    An aerial view shows a residential building destroyed by shelling, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the settlement of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region, Ukraine March 3, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. (REUTERS/Maksim Levin/File Photo)

  • Ukraine cars in Bushiv
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    Gutted cars following a night air raid in the village of Bushiv, 40 kilometers west of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP)

  • Damaged City Hall building, in Kharkiv, Ukraine
    Image 3 of 8

    In this handout photo released by Ukrainian Emergency Service, a burnt car is seen in front of a damaged City Hall building, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

  • Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire after shelling in Kyiv
    Image 4 of 8

    Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a damaged logistic center after shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

  • Damage in Borodyanka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine
    Image 5 of 8

    Heavy damage in the residential area of Borodyanka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3, 2022, following a Russian strike.  (Twitter/StahivUA via AP)

  • Ukrainian State Emergency Service workers rescuing those caught in missile strikes in Central Kharkiv
    Image 6 of 8

    This video footage and images show State Emergency Service of Ukraine workers on Wednesday tackling devastation and rescuing those caught in missile strikes on administration buildings in Central Kharkiv overnight on Tuesday (01March2022) (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Cover Images)

  • Russia's invasion of Ukraine
    Image 7 of 8

    A cultural and community centre, which locals said was destroyed by recent shelling, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the settlement of Byshiv in the Kyiv region, Ukraine March 4, 2022.  (REUTERS/Maksim Levin)

  • Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the settlement of Byshiv in the Kyiv region
    Image 8 of 8

    A man stands next to a burnt car near a cultural and community centre, which locals said was destroyed by recent shelling, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in the settlement of Byshiv in the Kyiv region, Ukraine March 4, 2022. (REUTERS/Maksim Levin)

He added: "One answer cannot be that the Russians deserve it. The Conventions are only viable if they are applied evenly. If we apply the rules selectively, the Russians will claim the same exceptional status in their treatment of Ukrainian POWs."

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed 406 civilians killed in Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion began. And 801 more civilians were injured as of midnight Sunday, the office said, noting that fighting has stymied accurate reporting and the numbers are actually higher. 

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have released higher casualty statistics. 

Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones.