Russian Forces Execute Ukrainian POWs: Stripped Naked and Shot in Pokrovsk District

Ukrainian prosecutors have initiated an investigation into a suspected war crime by Russian forces against prisoners of war in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region.

According to Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred on November 10, 2024, during an assault by Russian forces on Ukrainian defensive positions near the village of Novodmytrivka.

During the attack, two soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine were taken captive. The captives were allegedly forced to strip naked and marched under armed escort through a wooded area, where they were subsequently executed.

Investigators are also examining reports suggesting that three additional injured Ukrainian servicemen were killed by Russian forces at the same location.

The Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that investigative measures are underway to clarify all details of the incident. Officials have emphasized that the killing of prisoners of war constitutes a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime.

The pre-trial investigation is being carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Earlier, a video surfaced on October 9 showing Russian forces executing an unarmed and likely wounded Ukrainian prisoner of war, who identified himself as being from Ukraine’s Sumy region moments before his death.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed the video’s authenticity, labeling it a violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, and reported the incident to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations.