Russians execute five prisoners of war in the Donetsk region

26 November, 2024 Illustrative photo of the Russian Armed Forces. Photo from open sources. Russian invaders executed five captured servicemen of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the crime was committed in the Pokrovske area. Under the procedural control of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, a pre-trial investigation was initiated in criminal proceedings over the commission of a war crime combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). According to operational intelligence, in November 2024, the Russian invaders stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the village of Petrivka, Pokrovsk region.

As a result of the attack, five servicemen of the Ukrainian Defense Forces were forced to retreat and take refuge in a private house.

Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Pokrovske area. November 2024. Photo credits: Office of the Prosecutor General

After surrounding the house, the Russian military took the Ukrainian defenders prisoner.

Then, they forced them to leave the shelter unarmed and lie down on the ground. In violation of international humanitarian law, the Russian troops shot the Ukrainian prisoners with automatic weapons. Investigative actions are currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime and the persons involved in its committing.

"The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime," the Prosecutor General's Office added. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine recently reported the shooting of two Ukrainian soldiers on November 10 after an assault on the Ukrainian Armed Forces fortifications near the village of Novodmitrivka, Pokrovsk region. Information on the killing of three more wounded Ukrainian defenders at this position by the invaders is also being verified.

Servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces.

Illustration photo

In October, Sweden allocated EUR 2.4 million to Ukraine to investigate war crimes committed by the Russian aggressors.

The funds will be used to improve Ukraine's digital justice infrastructure and judicial proceedings, allowing for more efficient criminal proceedings on war crimes.