Ukrainian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the suspected execution of a captured Ukrainian soldier by Russian forces during fighting near Hnatkivka in Donetsk Oblast, according to a statement from the regional prosecutor’s office.
Russia has faced recurring accusations of killing captured and surrendering Ukrainian soldiers, with footage and investigations over the past three years showing a consistent pattern of executions both during frontline assaults and in other detention or holding situations.
Rights groups and Ukrainian investigators say the frequency and consistency of these incidents point to an entrenched practice across multiple Russian units, rather than sporadic abuse.
Captive beaten until unresponsive, then shot
The latest incident took place in November, when Russian troops stormed Ukrainian positions in the Pokrovsk district and took a Ukrainian servicemember prisoner.
Prosecutors say one soldier tied the captive’s hands while another beat him in the head with a rifle butt. When the prisoner stopped responding, they shot him.
This comes days after the Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into the killing of five other Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Kotlyne in the Pokrovsk region, who were reportedly shot at close range by Russian troops after being taken prisoner on 19 November.
Investigators working to identify unit responsible
Investigators say the killing amounts to the deliberate murder of a prisoner of war, a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Ukrainian security service investigators in Donetsk and Luhansk regions are working to identify those involved and verify the full sequence of events. Authorities say the probe is ongoing, with priority placed on confirming the unit and individuals responsible.
Over 130 illegal POW executions documented in 2024
Ukrainian prosecutors documented over 130 suspected executions of prisoners of war in 2024 alone, marking a sharp escalation in violations across the front. Investigations into the killings have resulted in only two Russian convictions despite hundreds of documented cases since 2022.
A Financial Times investigation concluded that the executions appear to be part of a systematic military policy rather than isolated incidents, with forensic analysis identifying Russian soldiers involved in specific killings.
