The horrifying trend of recent months indicates the continued systematic disregard by Russia for international law, particularly international humanitarian law.
According to the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine, as of November 22, law enforcement officers have investigated 53 criminal cases related to the execution of 177 Ukrainian soldiers, and in 2024 alone, 37 cases have been registered regarding 109 executed prisoners. Additionally, on November 28, new cases of executions were reported: Russian forces shot four Ukrainian prisoners in Donetsk region. Over the past months, at least five similar crimes have been recorded, highlighting the systematic nature of violations by Russia.
On November 24, in Zaporizhzhia region, where active combat operations are ongoing, Russian forces executed five out of six Ukrainian soldiers who had been captured near the village of Novodarivka in the Pology district. The Russians confiscated the prisoners' weapons and then executed five of them with automatic firearms.
Moreover, on October 10, nine Ukrainian soldiers were executed by Russian soldiers in Kursk region, and on October 1, 16 Ukrainian prisoners were executed in Donetsk region after surrendering.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern, confirmed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which has documented the systematic use of various methods of torture, including sexual violence, against Ukrainian prisoners by Russian forces.
These horrifying facts suggest the presence of an order not to take prisoners, which indicates a targeted policy of eliminating Ukrainian soldiers rather than holding them captive. This is an extremely alarming trend that underscores violations of international norms governing the conduct of war.