Executions of Ukrainian POWs “enabled” and “endorsed” by Russian commanders – reports

Source: ISW

An alarming increase in Russian forces executing Ukrainian POWs has drawn attention of military experts after

nine Ukrainian POWS were killed near the village of Zelenyi Shliakh in the Kursk region on October 10, according to a recent assessment by analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The Ukrainian project “Deepstate” reported on the killing of 9 troops on October 13.  According to the report, Ukrainian drone operators encountered Russian troops in what they likely believed to be their rear zone and came under Russian fire. With limited ammunition, they  had no choice but to surrender, and they were subsequently taken prisoner. Evidence suggests that the Russian troops disarmed, lined up, stripped, and executed the Ukrainian POWs.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing executions across various combat zones as Russian commanders are likely to writ large condoning, encouraging, or directly ordering the execution of Ukrainian POWs.

The ISW continues to monitor videos and reports of Ukrainian POW executions and identifies a growing trend of Russian abuses. These acts appear to be tolerated, if not explicitly approved, by certain Russian commanders.

Analysts also noted that many Russian military bloggers have largely cheered on the executions, with some justifying and even celebrating the killings as they claimed that “the executions were deserved or that such executions are a common aspect of war,” said the report.