Mastodawn

Here's what we're reading today:

The Russians have executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers since December while they were trying to surrender, and possibly six more who were about to surrender or had already surrendered, Human Rights Watch has reported.

Human rights activists stress that these cases should be investigated as #war crimes.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/02/ukraine-russian-forces-executed-surrendering-ukraine-soldiers

Ukraine: Russian Forces Executed Surrendering Ukraine Soldiers

Russian forces appear to have executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers as they attempted to surrender, and possibly six more who were surrendering or who had surrendered, since early December 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. These incidents should be investigated as war crimes.

Human Rights Watch

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Tim Mak May 2, 2024

The #US has accused the Russian military of using choking agent chloropicrin to win "battlefield gains" over #Ukraine, in violation of international laws.

Chloropicrin causes irritation of the eyes and skin and can cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Ukraine says its troops have faced mounting chemical attacks in recent months. #Russia has repeatedly denied the claims.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68941220

Russia using chemical choking agents in Ukraine, US says

The state department says Moscow has used a World War One-era weapon to "dislodge" Ukrainian troops.

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Tim Mak May 2, 2024

Read our report on Russia’s increasing illegal chemical weapons usage in #Ukraine here

https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/russias-increasing-illegal-chemical

Russia’s increasing illegal chemical weapons usage in Ukraine

A survivor of the sarin gas attacks in Syria tells us how inaction after a 2013 attack has emboldened authoritarians like Putin to use these indiscriminate weapons.

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak

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Tim Mak May 2, 2024

The editor of the #Kyiv Independent Olga Rudenko has spoken of the pressure on full press freedom in #Ukraine. With the possibility of elections starting last year, some journalists have reported “undue interest” from Ukraine's intelligence service.

"We can write what we want, but bad actors try to intimidate us" Rudenko told the #Guardian. She also pointed out that press freedom is much worse in #Russia.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/may/02/the-fight-for-full-press-freedom-in-ukraine-we-can-write-what-we-want-but-bad-actors-try-to-intimidate-us