Russian troops reportedly execute two Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk region Photo

Russian soldiers are accused of executing two unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) on December 27 in the village of Shakhove, near Pokrovsk, in Donetsk Oblast, according to Ukraine's Prosecutor General’s Office. This incident is one of at least three reported cases of Ukrainian soldiers being killed after surrendering this month.

The investigation alleges that Russian forces forced one of the prisoners to partially undress at gunpoint before executing both men. After confirming the deaths, the soldiers reportedly stripped the second POW of his clothing, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media. 

In response, Ukrainian authorities have launched a pretrial investigation under Article 438.2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which deals with war crimes resulting in death. The Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office is handling the case.

This follows earlier reports of executions of Ukrainian POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on December 20 and a separate incident on December 5 in the Siversk region. Such actions are considered breaches of international law under the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the killing of prisoners of war.

By Sabina Mammadli