Ukraine Military Identifies Soldier Seen in Grisly War Video

06 March 2023, Ukraine, Dmytrivka: Destroyed military armored vehicles of the Russian army are seen at Dmytrivka village near the Ukrainian capital Kyev. (dpa)
06 March 2023, Ukraine, Dmytrivka: Destroyed military armored vehicles of the Russian army are seen at Dmytrivka village near the Ukrainian capital Kyev. (dpa)
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Ukraine Military Identifies Soldier Seen in Grisly War Video

06 March 2023, Ukraine, Dmytrivka: Destroyed military armored vehicles of the Russian army are seen at Dmytrivka village near the Ukrainian capital Kyev. (dpa)
06 March 2023, Ukraine, Dmytrivka: Destroyed military armored vehicles of the Russian army are seen at Dmytrivka village near the Ukrainian capital Kyev. (dpa)

Ukraine's military on Tuesday tentatively identified as one of its missing soldiers a man who appeared to be shot dead by Russian-speakers in a short video that circulated widely on Ukrainian social media and caused an uproar.

The country's chief prosecutor announced a criminal investigation into the killing, and human rights chief Dmytro Lubinets argued that it was a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Senior Ukrainian officials alleged, without providing further evidence, that the man was an unarmed prisoner of war killed by Russian soldiers.

The 30th Mechanized Brigade on its Facebook page named the man as Tymofii Shadura. The identification is based on preliminary information and is not final, it said.

Shadura has been missing for just over a month amid bitter fighting in the Bakhmut area of eastern Ukraine, the post said. The city has been a combat hot spot as the war extends into its second year.

His identity is to be confirmed once the body is returned from a Russian-occupied area, the post added, though it did not say when that might happen.

The Ukrainian military's general staff gave the same name for the dead soldier, saying it was "according to preliminary information."

In the 12-second video, the man in combat fatigues is seen in a wooded area smoking a cigarette.

Someone off-camera is heard speaking in Russian. The man then says "Glory to Ukraine" and is hit by a volley of gunshots, falling into a hole in the ground, with an off-camera voice saying "Die," followed by an expletive.

The Associated Press could not verify the video’s authenticity nor any details about when it was recorded or the people involved.

Questions sent by the AP to the Russian military about the clip did not immediately receive a reply.

The video circulated widely on social media in Ukraine and unleashed an outcry.

In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "I want us all together, in unity, to respond to (the soldier’s) words: "Glory to the hero! Glory to heroes! Glory to Ukraine!" And we will find the killers."

Moscow also has expressed suspicion about the treatment of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces.

Last November, Ukraine said it would open an investigation into video footage that circulated on Russian social media, which Moscow alleged shows Ukrainian soldiers killing Russian troops who may have been trying to surrender after one of the men seemingly refused to lay down his weapon and opened fire.



Catholic Cardinals Meet to Discuss Date of Conclave for New Pope 

A cardinal is surrounded by media as he arrives for a general congregation meeting in the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A cardinal is surrounded by media as he arrives for a general congregation meeting in the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 28, 2025. (Reuters)
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Catholic Cardinals Meet to Discuss Date of Conclave for New Pope 

A cardinal is surrounded by media as he arrives for a general congregation meeting in the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 28, 2025. (Reuters)
A cardinal is surrounded by media as he arrives for a general congregation meeting in the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 28, 2025. (Reuters)

The world's Catholic cardinals met on Monday for the first time after the funeral of Pope Francis to discuss a possible date to enter a secret conclave and elect the next leader of the global Church.

Any decision could be announced around mid-day (1000 GMT). The conclave is not expected to begin before May 6.

The 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held, was closed to tourists on Monday to allow for preparations for the vote.

The past two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days. But Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius said on Monday he expects this conclave may take longer, as many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis have never met each other before.

Francis made a priority of appointing cardinals from places that had never had them, such as Myanmar, Haiti, and Rwanda.

"We don't know each other," Arborelius, one of about 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who will enter the conclave, said.

Francis, pope since 2013, died aged 88 on April 21. His funeral on Saturday and a procession through Rome to his burial place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major attracted crowds estimated at more than 400,000.

German Cardinal Walter Kasper told La Repubblica newspaper that the outpouring of mourners for Francis indicated that Catholics wanted the next pope to continue with his reforming style of papacy.

Francis, the first pope from Latin America, largely tried to open up the often staid Church to new conversations. He allowed debate on issues such as ordaining women as clergy.

"The People of God voted with their feet," said Kasper, who is 92 and will not take part in the conclave. "I am convinced that we must go ahead in the footsteps of Francis."

However, a bloc of conservative cardinals are certain to push back against this and seek a pope who reasserts traditions and restricts Francis' vision of a more inclusive Church.