Ukraine has vowed to track down the Russian troops who allegedly killed an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war after video of the incident surfaced online.
“We will find the murderers,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky late Monday.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded that the International Criminal Court conduct a “immediate investigation” into the case.
The Ukrainian soldier is seen in the video smoking a cigarette in a trench. He declares “glory to Ukraine” before being shot with automatic weapons.
One of the Russian soldiers, who is not seen in the video, is then heard saying “die” and expletives.
The BBC has not confirmed where or when the footage was shot. On Monday, it first surfaced on social media.
Although neither the Ukrainian POW nor the killers have been identified, the BBC has learned that he was a member of the 30 Brigade.
Russia has not responded.
Since President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Kiev and its Western allies have accused Russian troops of committing mass war crimes. The allegations are denied by Russia.
President Zelensky said in his video address that “the occupiers” killed “a warrior who bravely said to their faces: ‘Glory to Ukraine!'”
“I want us all to respond to his words as one: ‘Glory to the Hero! All hail the Heroes! Ukraine, bravo!'”
Mr Zelensky was referring to a military battle cry that has become popular among millions of Ukrainians.
Meanwhile, Mr Kuleba tweeted that the footage was “another proof this was is genocidal”.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, accused Russian troops of committing war crimes by violating the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.
Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, said a criminal investigation had already been launched.