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Russia Has Executed at Least 268 Ukrainian POWs, Says Human Rights Commissioner

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Dariia Mykhailenko
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Russia Has Executed at Least 268 Ukrainian POWs, Says Human Rights Commissioner
Residents of Odesa lay flowers at the monument to the victims of Nazism killed in the gunpowder warehouses of Odesa in October 1941, October 22, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

As of early July, Russia has executed at least 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war — a number that has surged dramatically over the past year. According to Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, these killings may be taking place with the approval of Russia’s top military command.

Speaking at a press conference marking his third year in office, Lubinets noted that investigations are ongoing into the confirmed executions, according to a Ukrinform correspondent on June 2.

“According to our data, as of today, investigations are underway into the execution of 268 Ukrainian POWs by Russian soldiers. And we’ve seen this number increase dramatically over the past year,” Lubinets stated.

He emphasized that such actions could not be happening on Russian territory without systematic approval from high-ranking officials.

“We understand that this treatment of Ukrainian POWs is sanctioned at the very top, so to speak. Unfortunately, we are witnessing this in reality,” he added.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities launched an investigation into a potential war crime following the emergence of a graphic video allegedly depicting Russian forces executing a Ukrainian prisoner of war. The footage, surfaced on social media earlier this week, appears to show a person bound to a motorcycle and dragged along a road.

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