Popular Russian military bloggers with millions of followers, including soldiers, actively promote the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war. This rhetoric, amplified on Kremlin-affiliated media, risks normalizing crimes against humanity among Russian forces.
According to The Institute for the Study of War, prominent Russian military bloggers have praised and justified the recent death of nine Ukrainian POWs in Kursk Oblast. This reinforces a culture within the Russian ultranationalists that condones and praises war crimes.
The Ukrainian drone operators observed on 10 October how Russian forces disarmed and stripped Ukrainian prisoners of war, in Russia‘s Kursk Oblast. This was a serious violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of POWs.
The significant increase in the number of Ukrainian POWs executed by Russian forces between 2024 and 2025 suggests that Russian policy may be changing to support this behavior. Yuriy Belosov, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, reported that 80% (93 out of 93) of the 93 POW executions documented have taken place this year.
ISW notes that a number of influential milbloggers who have large followings not only justified these executions, but also called for more similar actions in the war zone. Some bloggers said the executions were justified or that they were a normal part of war.
ISW argues that “this glorification highlights a broader cultural context that likely encourages the systemic executions of Ukrainian POWs.”
The report identifies several prominent milbloggers that endorsed the executions of 10 October. Rybar Telegram, with 1.3 million subscribers, has been awarded by the Kremlin. Rybar’s founder Mikhail Zvinchuk is a regular on Russian state TV, commentating about the war in Ukraine.
Other popular channels include Starshe Edy (627,00 subscribers), RVvoenkor (1,62 million subscribers), Dva Mayora (1.17 millions), Zapisky Veterana (357,00 subscribers), and RVvoenkor (1.62). ISW notes that many of these channels’ subscribers are Russian military personnel or volunteers who are currently engaged in war.
The glorification by Russian milbloggers of Russian atrocities in Ukraine is not a new phenomenon. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, they have been praising Russian brutality and atrocities.
ISW highlights the potential impact of these influential bloggers, noting that they have Kremlin affiliations which gives them authority to shape cultural norms in the Russian ultranationalist communities. The report suggests the widespread endorsement of these actions by influential figures could be encouraging further war crime.
On 1 October, Russian troops executed 16 Ukrainian POWs within the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk oblast. Video evidence, reportedly taken from Ukrainian drone footage shows Russian troops lining the prisoners up and opening fire with survivors being executed at close quarters.
In response to Russia’s executions of Ukrainian prisoners, Ukraine has restricted Russian POWs’ phone call privileges. Russian POWs are still able to send home letters, but the restriction is meant to address the mistreatment of Ukrainian POWs held in Russian custody. This policy shift is a result of increasing evidence that Russian forces are torturing and executing Ukrainian POWs.
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