Ukraine Accuses Russia of Systematic Execution of 273 POWs During War
Ukrainian prosecutors have documented cases of Russian forces summarily executing 273 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) during the full-scale war, the Liga.net news outlet reported, citing a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office. The allegations have sparked international concern, with Kyiv and the United Nations warning of a potential systematic policy by Moscow to kill Ukrainian captives.
The Prosecutor General’s Office stated that 77 criminal cases have been initiated in connection with the murders, while only two individuals have been convicted. A third person is currently facing a trial, though the statement did not confirm whether the convictions were issued in absentia. A total of 188 people have been convicted for various war crimes, including 18 captured Russian soldiers and one civilian, with the rest convicted in absentia.
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, reported a case of the likely murder of a Ukrainian POW, who was tied to a motorcycle and dragged along the road by Russian soldiers. Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) had earlier documented over 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being executed after surrendering to Russian forces, with multiple reports suggesting that Russian troops received explicit orders to kill prisoners of war.
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirmed growing numbers of incidents in which Russian forces killed or injured surrendering Ukrainian troops. A separate investigation is also underway into the 2022 killing of approximately 50 Ukrainian POWs in the Russian-run Olenivka prison, with Kyiv blaming Moscow for deliberately isolating Azov fighters in a separate building that was later destroyed. Russia denied responsibility, attributing the explosion to a Ukrainian HIMARS strike, a claim the U.N. has rejected. Despite Moscow’s denial of an independent investigation, an internal U.N. analysis reportedly concluded Russia was to blame for the incident.