Captured Russian Soldier Reveals Orders to Execute Ukrainian Prisoners of War

A captured Russian soldier revealed that Russian troops had been instructed to execute Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

This was reported by Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, citing the Forpost Brigade on December 19.

The Russian POW, a 51-year-old man who spent 37 years behind bars, admitted that he had only two weeks of training before being sent to the front line. He also admitted to receiving orders not to surrender and to execute Ukrainian prisoners.

"We were told not to surrender, and to 'neutralize' prisoners," the soldier admitted.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, reported on December 10, that Russian forces executed 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war in 2024.

"We have been able to officially document more violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war—executions, including brutal point-blank shootings, unfortunately. In 2024 alone, it was officially confirmed that Russian forces executed 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said.

One recent instance of POW executions took place on November 22, when Russian forces executed four Ukrainian prisoners of war near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

This incident is part of a systematic pattern, with numerous documented cases of Ukrainian POWs being executed and mistreated by Russian forces. Such actions constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.