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Russian Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Ukrainian POWs in Kursk
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A Kyiv court has sentenced a Russian soldier to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General on February 20.
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The convicted individual is a soldier from the 1st Marine Battalion, 40th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Armed Forces.
According to the investigation, in January 2025, during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, he, along with other soldiers, set up an ambush. Two Ukrainian defenders surrendered, laid down their weapons, and raised their hands. Despite this, the defendant opened fire on them, resulting in their deaths.
The court ruled that there was no military justification for using force, and the defendant was fully aware of the criminal nature of the order, which he could have refused to follow.
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The occupier's actions were categorized as violations of the laws and customs of war, carried out by a group of individuals, leading to the deaths of persons protected by international humanitarian law.
The court also partially upheld the civil lawsuit and ordered the defendant to pay $1,350 in moral damages to the victims’ families.
Additionally, in January, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released footage of the interrogation of Russian serviceman Sergey Skobelev, who executed nine Ukrainian prisoners of war in October 2024 during an operation in Russia's Kursk region.
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Skobelev, as the commander of a Russian assault group, received orders to attack Ukrainian Defense Forces positions. His unit captured nine Ukrainian soldiers, who were forced to strip and lie on the ground. They were promised exchange, but Skobelev and an accomplice shot all nine prisoners on orders from his commander.
After the executions, the Russian soldiers took the victims' phones and radios and continued their operations. Skobelev was captured by Ukrainian forces a week later.
Earlier, a Ukrainian court sentenced Russian soldier Sergey Tuzhylov, known by his call sign “Altai,” to life imprisonment for his involvement in the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war during Russia's renewed offensive in the Kharkiv region in 2024.
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