Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General has begun investigating the execution of 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian forces in the Pokrovsk area. This was reported by United24 Media.
This pre-trial investigation falls under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which addresses war crimes and violations of international law.
On October 1, 2024, reports surfaced on social media channels, alleging that Russian soldiers executed 16 captured Ukrainian servicemen near the villages of Mykolaivka and Sukhyi Yar.
A video circulated online reportedly shows the POWs being marched out of a wooded area, lined up by Russian forces, and then shot.
Survivors of the initial shooting were allegedly executed at close range.
Investigation Underway
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin, condemned the massacre, noting it as the largest known incident involving the execution of Ukrainian POWs since the start of the full-scale war.
He stressed that such violent acts reflect a broader strategy by Russian military and political leaders rather than isolated events.
Ukrainian authorities are working to authenticate the video evidence.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is leading the investigation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with investigative teams on the ground to verify the details and identify those responsible.
International War Crime
This mass execution is a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions, which govern the treatment of prisoners of war. Such acts are classified as serious international crimes, punishable under international law.
Kostin emphasized that Ukraine would not only seek justice for this atrocity but would also continue to document and investigate other war crimes committed by Russian forces throughout the conflict.
