Russians execute unarmed, wounded Ukrainian POW on camera as international bodies struggle to respond

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has initiated a criminal investigation into the reported killing of a Ukrainian prisoner of war by Russian forces, following the emergence of video evidence on Telegram on 9 November.

Ukrainian law enforcement is currently investigating 49 criminal cases involving the deaths of 124 Ukrainian prisoners of war on the battlefield. According to their data, there has been a marked increase in such incidents since late 2023, with numbers reaching “unprecedented levels” in 2024. It is believed to be a part of a broader strategy to intimidate Ukrainian soldiers and undermine morale.

The video appears to show Russian forces fatally shooting a wounded Ukrainian prisoner of war at point-blank range. In the footage, the prisoner, who identifies himself as being from Sumy Oblast, northeastern Ukraine, is questioned about the location of other Ukrainian soldiers before being shot multiple times while lying down.

According to the footage, other Russian soldiers present at the scene attempted to prevent the shooting, with voices heard saying “Don’t do it,  don’t do it.” 

The time and location of the incident remain unverified.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts is conducting the investigation to determine the precise time and location of the incident, along with other relevant circumstances.

The Office of the Prosecutor General states that the killing of prisoners of war constitutes “a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions” and qualifies as a serious international crime under current legal frameworks.

Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets also announced plans to submit formal communications about the case to both the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations.

“If you do not respond to this, the crimes will be repeated. Unpunished evil always returns,” Lubinets wrote.

Lubinets reported that Ukraine possesses evidence of over a hundred cases where Russian military forces executed Ukrainian soldiers after they had surrendered.

He also expressed concern over the lack of response from international organizations, noting the absence of public statements or legal actions against the perpetrators.

Russian military bloggers are praising and justifying the execution of Ukrainian POWs, framing such actions as acceptable wartime conduct. 

A captured Russian marine from the 155th Marine Brigade has disclosed that his unit commander ordered the execution and subsequent beheading of two Ukrainian prisoners of war near Glushkovo, Kursk Oblast, in late September 2024. 

Russian executions of Ukrainian POWs systematic

The incident adds to a growing number of similar cases. 

On 1 October, Russian forces executed 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast. This incident is described as the largest known case of mass execution of surrendered soldiers during the ongoing war.

On 10 October, Ukrainian drone operators captured footage of Russian forces disarming, lining up, stripping, and shooting nine Ukrainian POWs in Kursk Oblast.

These acts are considered a serious violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of POWs.

In response to the mistreatment of Ukrainian POWs, Ukraine has implemented restrictions on phone call privileges for Russian POWs in its custody. While Russian prisoners can still send letters home, this policy change aims to address the situation of Ukrainian POWs in Russian captivity.

Related: