An investigation is underway regarding the suspected execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia region. This inquiry is in response to incidents classified as war crimes that resulted in fatalities, as outlined under Article 438 of the Ukrainian Penal Code.
Authorities are working to uncover all aspects of the crime, including identifying the direct perpetrators and those who may have ordered the execution of the POWs. Law enforcement is analyzing materials provided by Ukrainian military sources, which include intercepted communications among Russian military personnel, as reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Maxim Kravchuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, informed “Ukrainska Pravda” that the alleged shooting was carried out by the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which Ukrainian defenders are currently facing in the Huliaipole direction.
During the crime, defense forces intercepted communications from Russian soldiers, including orders to execute captured personnel. Kravchuk cited specific commands given to Russian troops, which included instructions to eliminate unarmed prisoners, indicating a severe breach of international humanitarian law.
He emphasized the importance of international community action in demanding accountability for these acts and supporting the investigation into the killings.
Context
- In December 2025, the United Nations reported an increase in allegations of executions of Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces.
- According to Ukrainian law enforcement, the most significant known case of execution occurred in autumn 2024 near the villages of Mykolaivka and Sukhyi Yar in the Donetsk region, where 16 servicemen were shot.
- As of early August, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that at least 345 Ukrainian POWs had been executed by Russian forces.
- On September 11, the Donetsk regional prosecutor announced that two Ukrainian National Guard servicemen taken prisoner near Dobropillia had been executed.
