The Ukrainian authorities have documented more than 100 cases of soldiers being killed when they tried to surrender. The latest footage shows Russian forces shooting a man at point blank range.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine initiated a criminal probe into the reported killing of an Ukrainian prisoner of War by Russian forces following the appearance of video evidence on Telegram, 9 November.
The Ukrainian police are currently investigating 49 criminal matters involving the death of 124 Ukrainian prisoner of war on the battlefield. According to their data there has been an increase in these incidents since the end of 2023. The numbers reached “unprecedented” levels in 2024. It is believed that this is part of a larger strategy to intimidate Ukrainian troops and undermine morale.
The video appears as if it shows Russian forces shooting a wounded Ukrainian POW at point-blank distance. The prisoner, who claims to be from Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine is asked about the location of other Ukrainian troops before being shot several times while lying on his back.
According to the footage, Russian soldiers who were present at the scene tried to prevent the shooting. Voices heard saying “Don‘t do it, Don’t do it” can be heard.
The exact time and location are still unknown.
The Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk-Luhansk Oblasts is conducting an investigation to determine the exact time and location of this incident, as well as other relevant circumstances.
The Office of the Prosecutor General has stated that the killing of prisoners of War constitutes “a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions”, and is a serious international crime according to current legal frameworks.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights, announced that he would also be submitting formal communications regarding the case to the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as the United Nations.
If you don’t respond, the crimes will repeat themselves. “Unpunished evil returns,” Lubinets wrote.
Lubinets reported on the fact that Ukraine has evidence of more than 100 cases where Russian forces executed Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered.
He also expressed his concern about the lack of response by international organizations, noting that there were no public statements or legal action against the perpetrators.
Russian military bloggers praise and justify the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war, framing this as acceptable conduct during wartime.
A captured Russian Marine from the 155th Marine Brigade revealed that his unit commander had ordered the execution and beheading of two Ukrainian prisoner of war near Glushkovo in Kursk Oblast at the end of September 2024.
Russian executions against Ukrainian POWs are systematic
The incident is one of many similar incidents.
On 1 October, Russian troops executed 16 Ukrainian prisoners-of-war (POWs), in the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk Oblast. This incident has been described as the largest mass execution of surrendered troops during the ongoing conflict.
On 10 October, Ukrainian drones captured footage of Russian forces disarming and shooting nine Ukrainian prisoners in Kursk Oblast.
These acts are considered serious violations of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
In response to the mistreatment suffered by Ukrainian POWs while in Ukraine’s custody, Ukraine has implemented restrictions regarding phone calls for Russian POWs. Russian prisoners are still allowed to send home letters, but this policy change is intended to address the mistreatment of Ukrainian POWs held in Russian captivity.
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