Russian soldiers have been observed wearing civilian clothing to conceal their movements in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, according to a report by Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade on Jan. 12.
The brigade shared aerial reconnaissance footage on Facebook allegedly showing Russian troops dressed as civilians. While The Kyiv Independent has not verified the footage, the brigade described this tactic as “another violation of the rules of warfare,” potentially constituting a war crime under international law.
The statement highlighted that Russian infantrymen use civilian disguises to “divert attention and disguise themselves” but noted that they often give themselves away through identical clothing, suspicious behavior, or the presence of weapons.
“Nevertheless, this still complicates the work of our soldiers, as the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not ‘shoot at everything that moves,’ unlike (Russian) occupiers,” the brigade said.
War Crimes Accusations Mount
Ukraine has consistently accused Russian forces of violating international law throughout the full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. By September, Ukrainian authorities had documented over 137,000 alleged war crimes, including the abduction of children, torture of residents in occupied territories, and the murder of civilians and prisoners of war (POWs).
Most recently, on Jan. 6, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that Russian troops had killed three Ukrainian POWs in southwest Donetsk Oblast.
“We are once again witnessing atrocities that demonstrate Russia’s true face,” Lubinets said.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian forces in countering Russian tactics and adhering to international norms amid the prolonged conflict
