Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin has announced an investigation into the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) by Russian forces near Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
A video depicting the shooting of two captured Ukrainian soldiers by Russian troops surfaced on social media on 10 July. The incident reportedly occurred in June 2024. Investigators suspect the involvement of Russia’s 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment, based in Chechnya.
Russian soldiers executed 2 Ukrainian POWs near 🇺🇦 Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to 🇺🇦Prosecutor General. War crime investigation ongoing
Video emerged 10 July, but exact date of incident unknown. Suspected perpetrators: 70th Motor Rifle Regiment from Chechnya, Russia pic.twitter.com/x6BthWrqzn
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 10, 2024
“This is not an isolated incident, but a deliberate policy of the Kremlin’s regime to destroy everything Ukrainian,” Kostin stated on X/Twitter.
The act violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime. However, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets notes that international organizations struggle to respond effectively to such incidents.
Read more:
- Ukrainian Intel identifies Russian officers behind POW executions near Robotyne
- Starvation, beatings, nails ripped out: Russia systematically tortures Ukrainian POWs till death
- Mirror: Russian POW camps feed Ukrainian soldiers dog food and torture them until they lose consciousness
- “One cup of water per day for 8 people”: Deaths of Ukrainian POWs in Russian captivity rise, human rights group says