The Killing of Captured Ukrainian Armed Forces Soldiers: How Many Cases Have Been Recorded Since 2022?
Source: Slovo i Dilo
At least three new cases of Ukrainian prisoners of war being killed by Russians were recorded over the past week. The war crimes occurred in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole areas, resulting in the deaths of 11 captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, according to the prosecutor’s office. From January through September 2025, investigators documented more than 100 executions of Ukrainian soldiers by the Russian Armed Forces. Last year, the number of those killed nearly reached 150—and these are only the cases that have been confirmed. See the infographic for more details on the number of documented cases of Russian killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the number of criminal cases opened regarding these incidents from 2022 to 2025.
Since the start of the invasion, the Russians—in violation of the Geneva Convention—have killed more than 300 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who were taken prisoner. And these are only the cases that investigators have been able to confirm. See the infographic for more details.
Execution of Captured Ukrainian Armed Forces Soldiers | Slovo i Dilo | Full-size image (opens in a new window)
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, during the first year of the full-scale invasion, investigators documented 57 killings of captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers committed by the Russian army. Over the course of the year, eight criminal cases were opened regarding the commission of a war crime resulting in the death of a person (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Throughout 2023, investigators documented 11 executions of Ukrainian soldiers who were held captive by the Russian occupiers. Eight criminal cases were also opened.
The highest number of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russians was recorded in 2024—149 deaths. The number of criminal cases initiated rose to 39.
From January through September 2025, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Russians killed 105 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who had been taken prisoner. The incidents were documented in various sectors of the front. Twenty-five criminal cases were opened.
In November, the prosecutor’s office reported four new cases. Specifically, on November 14, in the Huliaipole sector of Zaporizhzhia Oblast—where active combat operations are ongoing—Russian troops executed three Ukrainian prisoners of war.
On November 19, during an assault on Ukrainian positions near the village of Kotlyne in the Pokrovsk district, Russian soldiers took five Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen prisoner. As the unarmed Ukrainian defenders lay face-down on the ground, one of the occupiers opened aimed fire at them with an assault rifle, killing them.
On November 27, in the Hulyaypole sector of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian troops shot and killed five more captured Ukrainian Defense Forces soldiers. The Ukrainian defenders were unarmed and unable to resist.
Also today, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that during an assault on positions near the village of Hnativka in the Pokrovsk district, Russian forces surrounded and captured a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier. According to investigators, one of the occupiers tied his hands, while another struck him on the head with the butt of an assault rifle. When the unarmed defender lost consciousness, he was shot.
It should be noted that on November 6 of this year, for the first time in Ukraine’s history, a court handed down a verdict specifically for the shooting of a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier who had surrendered. The Russian was sentenced to life in prison.
The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a serious international crime, as Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has repeatedly emphasized. Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to the UN and the ICRC, and has called on the international community to respond to Russia’s war crimes.
At least three new cases of Ukrainian prisoners of war being killed by Russians were recorded over the past week. The war crimes occurred in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole areas, resulting in the deaths of 11 captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, according to the prosecutor’s office. From January through September 2025, investigators documented more than 100 executions of Ukrainian soldiers by the Russian Armed Forces. Last year, the number of those killed nearly reached 150—and these are only the cases that have been confirmed. See the infographic for more details on the number of documented cases of Russian killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the number of criminal cases opened regarding these incidents from 2022 to 2025.
Since the start of the invasion, the Russians—in violation of the Geneva Convention—have killed more than 300 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who were taken prisoner. And these are only the cases that investigators have been able to confirm. See the infographic for more details.
Execution of Captured Ukrainian Armed Forces Soldiers | Slovo i Dilo | Full-size image (opens in a new window)
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, during the first year of the full-scale invasion, investigators documented 57 killings of captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers committed by the Russian army. Over the course of the year, eight criminal cases were opened regarding the commission of a war crime resulting in the death of a person (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Throughout 2023, investigators documented 11 executions of Ukrainian soldiers who were held captive by the Russian occupiers. Eight criminal cases were also opened.
The highest number of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russians was recorded in 2024—149 deaths. The number of criminal cases initiated rose to 39.
From January through September 2025, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Russians killed 105 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who had been taken prisoner. The incidents were documented in various sectors of the front. Twenty-five criminal cases were opened.
In November, the prosecutor’s office reported four new cases. Specifically, on November 14, in the Huliaipole sector of Zaporizhzhia Oblast—where active combat operations are ongoing—Russian troops executed three Ukrainian prisoners of war.
On November 19, during an assault on Ukrainian positions near the village of Kotlyne in the Pokrovsk district, Russian soldiers took five Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen prisoner. As the unarmed Ukrainian defenders lay face-down on the ground, one of the occupiers opened aimed fire at them with an assault rifle, killing them.
On November 27, in the Hulyaypole sector of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian troops shot and killed five more captured Ukrainian Defense Forces soldiers. The Ukrainian defenders were unarmed and unable to resist.
Also today, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that during an assault on positions near the village of Hnativka in the Pokrovsk district, Russian forces surrounded and captured a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier. According to investigators, one of the occupiers tied his hands, while another struck him on the head with the butt of an assault rifle. When the unarmed defender lost consciousness, he was shot.
It should be noted that on November 6 of this year, for the first time in Ukraine’s history, a court handed down a verdict specifically for the shooting of a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier who had surrendered. The Russian was sentenced to life in prison.
The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a serious international crime, as Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has repeatedly emphasized. Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to the UN and the ICRC, and has called on the international community to respond to Russia’s war crimes.
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