Russian forces execute two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers at close range in Donetsk Oblast 

The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a criminal investigation into the alleged execution of two Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian forces near Selydove, Donetsk Oblast, on 18 October.

Russia has intensified the execution of Ukrainian POWs in 2024. Ukrainian officials and reports from the United Nations (UN) have documented these violations as part of the systemic mistreatment of captured Ukrainian soldiers, which violates the Geneva Conventions governing POW treatment. The execution trend has raised concerns that the Kremlin may be shifting its policy towards deliberately eliminating POWs rather than treating them according to international laws.

According to operational data cited by the prosecutor’s office, Russian troops storming a forest plantation near Selydove captured two Ukrainian servicemen. 

The captors forced the unarmed prisoners to lie face down, restraining them by pressing their feet on the captives’ backs. Shortly after, the soldiers allegedly shot the prisoners at close range with automatic weapons.

“The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime,” the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office stated.

As the investigation progresses, authorities will likely seek to gather additional evidence and testimonies to build a case for potential prosecution. 

On 1 October, Russian troops killed 16 Ukrainian POWs in the Pokrovsk sector, Donetsk Oblast, making it one of the largest mass killings of prisoners since the start of the  full-scale war.

Russian military bloggers have been glorifying the execution of Ukrainian POWs, portraying such actions as acceptable wartime conduct. This rhetoric reflects a growing normalization of war crimes within Russian discourse, aimed at justifying violence against captured soldiers, according to the Institute for the Study of War. 

The European Union condemned Russia’s glorification of increasing executions of Ukrainian POWs, calling it a reflection of the Kremlin’s brutal regime.

Ukraine restricted phone privileges for Russian POWs in retaliation for Russia’s executions of Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian officials stated this measure aims to pressure Russia to adhere to international laws on prisoner treatment.

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