Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 22 civilians in occupied village

Moscow has accused Ukrainian troops of killing 22 civilians in an occupied Russian village, including eight women allegedly raped before being executed.

According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the killings took place in the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, located about 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Initially, Russian authorities reported the deaths of seven civilians but later revised the number to 22, claiming the victims were found in basements of several homes.

Russian investigators blamed five Ukrainian soldiers for the killings, stating that one of them, Yevgeny Fabrisenko, was captured during fighting in the Kursk region. A video of Fabrisenko’s interrogation was released, in which he confessed to the crime.

At a briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged that the victims were tortured before being executed.

Ukraine has not officially responded to the claims, and AFP has not independently verified the allegations.

Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilians throughout the nearly three-year conflict. Russian forces have been accused of similar atrocities, including the massacre of civilians in Bucha, a claim Moscow denies.