A Russian soldier shot dead a Ukrainian servicemember who attempted to surrender in Donetsk’s Sviato-Pokrovske area, Ukrainian prosecutors said on Friday.
Russia has been repeatedly accused of killing surrendering Ukrainian soldiers throughout the war, a pattern that Kyiv says aims to spread fear on the front and break units that try to comply with international law.
Video reportedly shows soldier emerging with hands raised
The latest incident occurred as Russian troops entered the village’s private sector, according to Ukraine’s 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade and Prosecutor General's Office.
Officials say video released by Russian sources shows the Ukrainian fighter emerging from a damaged home with hands raised. Prosecutors said a Russian soldier hiding nearby then opened fire. The wounded servicemember tried to take cover but was killed with another shot from an automatic weapon.
Another war crimes investigation launched
A pretrial investigation has been launched under Ukraine’s war crimes statute. Investigators are working to establish all circumstances and identify the Russian servicemember responsible.
Ukrainian officials emphasized that, under international law, a soldier who has surrendered is considered hors de combat and cannot be lawfully targeted.
Kyiv’s prosecutors stressed that the case is part of a wider pattern of deliberate targeting of surrendering soldiers, underlining the ongoing threat to Ukrainian troops in occupied and contested areas.
