Russia to flaunt caged war prisoners in Ukraine Independence Day ‘show trials’
Vladimir Putin's forces are preparing to put captured Ukrainian soldiers in cages and display them in sick "show trials", according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Ukraine's independence day is next Wednesday (August 24).
Ukrainian officials say that the display and trials are due to take place in Mariupol, a city now under Russian control after months of fierce resistance from natives in the early months of the invasion.
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Russian soldiers are reportedly repurposing a concert hall in Mariupol – or what is left of it after the lengthy siege – for the sickening event.
A statement today (Friday, August 19) from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defence Ministry read: "On Ukraine's Independence Day, the occupiers plan to hold a show trial over the captured defenders of Azovstal in the temporarily occupied Mariupol.
"For this purpose, the surviving premises of the Mariupol Chamber Philharmonic are being urgently remodelled.
"On the stage of the philharmonic hall, iron cages are being installed, in which the Ukrainian Defenders will be kept. Also, several new temporary structures are being erected next to the premises.
"To add the appearance of 'legitimacy' to this action, the occupiers prepare specially trained 'witnesses' and bring in representatives of the racist 'media'."
The statement also warns of a potential planned "terrorist attack" from Russia during the trials.
"[Russia] would traditionally try to shift the blame for the committed crime to Ukraine," the statement concludes.
This won't be the only special action from Russian forces on Ukraine's independence day according to officials, with Ukrainian intelligence warning of "massive shelling".
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The Centre for Strategic Communications (StratCom), a Ukrainian NGO, wrote on its website yesterday (August 18): "The threat of massive shelling on the territory of Ukraine with S-300 missiles is obvious.
"Considering the arrival of several trains [from Russia] before Aug. 20, it is clear that the Russians are preparing to attack Ukraine on Aug. 24."
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