US Mercenaries captured by Russians

[williamp]

Interesting developement which might have political overtones. At least two former US Military vets have been captured in Ukraine fighting the Russians. According to the Geneva Convention, the people do not have to be treated as captured enemy and can be executed as spies....

Will they, or will be held hostage and traded for Russian spies held in the US?? Could be an interesting test for the US..

[Talksteer]

williamp said:

Interesting developement which might have political overtones. At least two former US Military vets have been captured in Ukraine fighting the Russians. According to the Geneva Convention, the people do not have to be treated as captured enemy and can be executed as spies....

Will they, or will be held hostage and traded for Russian spies held in the US?? Could be an interesting test for the US..

Are you a Russian bot/supporter?

The Geneva convention regulates the conduct of states in conflict. To be a lawful combatant you must be:

1: Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.

2: Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that they fulfill the following conditions:

• that of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;
• that of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
• that of carrying arms openly;
• that of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

3: Members of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a government or an authority not recognized by the Detaining Power.

4: Inhabitants of a non-occupied territory, who on the approach of the enemy spontaneously take up arms to resist the invading forces, without having had time to form themselves into regular armed units, provided they carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war; often dubbed a levée after the mass conscription during the French Revolution.

The origins of a person do not matter, if a person is fighting under the military discipline of the Ukrainian armed forces, accepting orders and wearing a uniform or other identifying clothing they are a lawful combatant and are covered by the Geneva convention.

As you can see from above it is quite difficult not to be a lawful combatant.