Russian soldiers have reportedly committed another war crime by executing two unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Russia's Kursk Oblast.
Evidence Circulated Online
This is reported according to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights.
Lubinets cited evidence circulating online that appears to show Russian forces shooting at least two unarmed Ukrainian POWs at close range, according to Pravda.
In a statement shared on Telegram, Lubinets condemned the alleged act, stating that POWs must be protected from violence under the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law.
He emphasized that this incident represents a serious violation of those protections, as it continues a troubling pattern of war crimes attributed to Russian forces.
Investigating the Shooting
Lubinets has formally alerted the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to this incident, requesting that international bodies address the situation.
In response, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced that an investigation into the probable shooting has been launched.
The Security Service of Ukraine will oversee the inquiry as authorities work to confirm the details of the incident.
This recent allegation follows a series of similar incidents. On November 9, 2024, a video surfaced on a Telegram channel showing Russian troops capturing and executing a wounded Ukrainian soldier, lying on the ground, with automatic weapons.
This video prompted Ukraine’s Security Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office to begin a pre-trial investigation.
The Prosecutor General's Office has also reported a sharp rise in cases involving Ukrainian soldiers being killed while attempting to surrender. Currently, law enforcement agencies are investigating 49 criminal cases tied to the deaths of 124 Ukrainian POWs.
