Russian troops execute 5 Ukrainian prisoners of war near Vuhledar
Source: Prosecutor General’s Office
Russian troops have executed five Ukrainian prisoners of war near the embattled city of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
On October 2, Russian troops stormed Ukrainian defensive positions in the city, capturing five unarmed soldiers. One of the captives was brutally killed in a forested area, while the remaining four were led onto a road and executed.
Such killings constitute a severe breach of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the execution of prisoners of war. These actions amount to a grave war crime under international law.
Reports of prisoner executions by Russian forces have surged in recent months. In October and November alone, Ukrainian authorities have opened 13 criminal investigations into the execution of 54 Ukrainian POWs. This figure accounts for a third of all such cases documented in 2024.
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