Key facts
- Kyiv alleges hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war have been executed by the Russian army since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
- A UN report from last month cited 129 verified executions of Ukrainian POWs.
- Ukrainian officials report a 'marked increase' in executions starting in 2023, suggesting a deliberate policy.
- The 110th brigade confirmed troops, including Andriy Dubnytsky, were killed after an alleged agreement to evacuate them was violated.
- Ukrainian prosecutors have opened investigations into the alleged 'shooting of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war'.
- Ukrainian intelligence services estimate over 900 military personnel killed in more than 340 incidents since 2022.
Kyiv has accused Russia's army of executing hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. While the exact number is unknown and varies between sources, Ukrainian officials allege these executions reveal a deliberate policy by Moscow. A UN report last month verified 129 such executions and noted a "marked increase" in cases last year.
One documented case involves Andriy Dubnytsky, a 25-year-old soldier from the 110th brigade, who was killed in February 2024 as Ukrainian troops retreated from Avdiivka. His wife, Lyudmyla Dubnytska, last heard from him on February 15, when he expressed extreme nervousness and indicated they would likely be captured. A video later emerged showing the bodies of Dubnytsky and five comrades, identified by a distinctive tattoo on his hand. The 110th brigade confirmed the deaths and accused Russian forces of violating an agreement to evacuate them.
Ukrainian prosecutors have opened investigations into these alleged killings, with officials stating that the rate of "executions" by Russian troops increased significantly starting in 2023. Andriy Atamantchuk, an official with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, suggested this stems from a Russian policy that "effectively encouraged and enabled such crimes."
Moscow has consistently rejected accusations of war crimes and, in turn, accuses Kyiv of committing them. Under the Geneva Conventions, POWs are afforded protections from the moment they clearly surrender. Ukrainian intelligence suggests the now-dismantled Wagner paramilitary group played a role in establishing a precedent for executions. Most victims are reportedly shot dead, though investigators also allege cases of extreme brutality, including beheadings.
To date, Ukraine has opened 116 investigations into the killings of 306 Ukrainian servicemen since 2022. However, Atamantchuk stressed the total is likely much higher. Ukrainian intelligence services estimate over 900 military personnel have been killed in more than 340 incidents, attributing the variance in numbers to different methodologies. Only five Russian soldiers have been convicted in Ukraine for such crimes, with investigations complicated by a lack of access to combat zones.