Reports indicate an increasing number of Ukrainian prisoners of war executed by Russian forces

Ukrainian sniper Oleksandr Matsievsky was taken prisoner by Russian forces during the initial year of the comprehensive invasion. Subsequently, a video surfaced depicting him smoking a final cigarette in a wooded area, seemingly beside a grave he had been compelled to excavate. He declares, “Glory to Ukraine!” to his captors. Shortly thereafter, gunfire is heard, and he collapses, deceased. His killing represents one among numerous such incidents. This October, reports indicated that nine Ukrainian soldiers, who had been captured, were shot and killed by Russian troops in the Kursk region. Ukrainian prosecutors are currently examining this incident, which includes a photograph displaying partially clothed bodies on the ground. This image enabled the parents of one victim, drone operator Ruslan Holubenko, to identify their son. His distressed mother informed local broadcaster Suspilne Chernihiv, “I recognised him by his underwear. I bought it for him before a trip to the sea. I also knew that his shoulder had been shot through. You could see that in the picture.” The catalogue of such killings continues. Ukrainian prosecutors are also looking into accounts of beheadings and the use of a sword to kill a Ukrainian soldier whose hands were bound behind his back. In a separate case, footage depicted 16 Ukrainian soldiers seemingly arranged in a line before being cut down by automatic gunfire after they emerged from a wooded area to surrender. Certain executions were recorded by Russian forces directly, whereas others were witnessed by Ukrainian drones flying overhead. These video-recorded killings typically occur in forests or open fields without unique landmarks, complicating the verification of their precise locations. Nevertheless, BBC Verify has managed to confirm in multiple instances—including a beheading—that the individuals are dressed in Ukrainian uniforms and that the footage is current. The Ukrainian prosecution service reports that Russian forces have executed a minimum of 147 Ukrainian prisoners of war since the commencement of the full-scale invasion, with 127 of these occurring this year. Yuri Belousov, who leads the War Department at the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General’s Office, states, “The upward trend is very clear, very obvious.” He adds, “Executions became systemic from November last year and have continued throughout all of this year. Sadly, their number has been particularly on the rise this summer and autumn. This tells us that they are not isolated cases. They are happening across vast areas and they have clear signs of being part of a policy – there is evidence that instructions to this effect are being issued.” International humanitarian law, specifically the Third Geneva Convention, provides safeguards for prisoners of war, and their execution constitutes a war crime. Notwithstanding these provisions, Ramzan Kadyrov, the authoritarian leader of Russia’s Chechnya, temporarily instructed his commanders engaged in the Ukraine war “to take no prisoners.” Rachel Denber, Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch, asserts that ample evidence exists to substantiate claims of Ukrainian prisoners of war being executed by Russian forces. She suggests that impunity is a significant factor, and the Russian military faces critical inquiries. She poses the questions: “What instructions do these units have, either formally or informally from their commanders? Are their commanders being quite clear about what the Geneva Conventions say about the treatment of prisoners of war? What are Russian military commanders telling their units about their conduct? What steps is the chain of command taking to investigate these instances? And if higher ups are not investigating, or not taking steps to prevent that conduct, are they aware that they too are criminally liable and can be held accountable?” To date, no indication suggests that Russia is officially probing accusations that its forces have executed Ukrainian prisoners of war. In Russia, merely referring to such allegations can lead to substantial prison terms. Vladimir Putin has stated that Russian forces have “always” treated Ukrainian prisoners of war “strictly in line with international legal documents and international conventions.” Accusations have also been made against Ukrainian forces regarding the execution of Russian prisoners of war, though the volume of these claims is considerably lower. Yuri Belousov affirms that the Ukrainian prosecution service regards such allegations “very seriously” and is investigating them; however, no charges have been filed to date. Human Rights Watch reports that since the comprehensive invasion commenced in February 2022, Russian forces have perpetrated “a litany of violations, including those which should be investigated as war crimes or crimes against humanity.” The history of abuses by the Russian army is so extensive that some Ukrainian soldiers opt for death rather than capture. Ruslan Holubenko’s mother recounts, “He told me: Mum, I’ll never surrender, never. Forgive me, I know you’ll cry, but I don’t want to be tortured.” Her son remains officially categorized as missing in action, and she maintains a desperate hope. She adds, “I’ll do everything that’s possible and impossible to get my child back. I keep looking at this photo. Maybe he is just unconscious? I want to believe, I don’t want to think that he’s gone.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.