Zelensky declared the Ukrainian soldier who was summarily executed by Russian troops a hero

City security service Ukraine (SBU) announced on Sunday that it had definitively identified the Ukrainian soldier, whose summary execution appeared on video early last week. is around Oleksandr Matsievsky, elite sniper of the 163rd battalion of the 119th brigade of the Chernihiv region.

The SBU claims that it came to this conclusion after conducting a “complex investigation”, with the appropriate forensic report already issued and after talking to the family of the fallen soldier. Information from the SBU claims that “all available photo and video materials have been processed”, and that the soldier’s location was lost at the beginning of December. performed on December 30 and his body was Russian troops surrendered to the Ukrainian army in February.

Speaking about Matsievsky, SBU director Vasili Maliuk said on Sunday: “We are dealing with a true hero who, even facing death, showed the whole world what Ukrainian character is and its invincibility.” “Those fighters are the ones who defend our country today. This means that the enemy will surely be defeated.”

President of the country Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded the fallen soldier the Hero of Ukraine order on Sunday. “Today I awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Oleksandr Macyevsky. A soldier. A man who will be known to all Ukrainians. A man who will be remembered forever. For his courage, for his faith in Ukraine and because he said when he died Glory to Ukraine!“, the president elaborated.

Images of the execution appeared on Telegram channels on the afternoon of the 6th. It is still not known where they originated. The video, which lasts about twelve seconds, shows a man in military uniform standing and smoking. Outside the frame, a voice is heard saying “film”, and a soldier shouts “Glory to Ukraine”. “But what are you saying,” says another voice. From there, she shoots him in the face with a pistol at close range, knocks him to the ground, and then proceeds to shoot him. At the end, someone says “black dog”. The video spread like wildfire, causing shock and outrage.

There is no information yet on how the video got to social networks. In statements to AFP last Wednesday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the video “appears to be authentic”. “We are aware of this video posted on social media showing a captive Ukrainian soldier allegedly being executed by Russian armed forces. According to preliminary analysis, We think the video looks authentic.”said the spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner.

forensic analysis

The first to assert that the executed soldier was Matsievski was Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov. According to his information, the identity of the dead Ukrainian soldier could be confirmed by his own mother when she saw the video of those soldiers from the 163rd battalion, after they had carried out checks in the town of Nézhin. Butusov presented evidence that proves the accuracy of his research. For example, a recent photo of an executed soldier shows a bandage on his right eyebrow from a wound that was made two weeks before his death. According to another picture he gives as evidence, the “green” sign of his platoon can be seen. Matsievski was buried on February 14 in Nezhin, and the expert examination showed bullet holes in the parts of the bodies of those killed, according to the video. It is not known exactly how he was captured.