UN body reports 'alarming rise' in Russian execution of captured Ukrainian soldiers

All allegations of execution of captured Ukrainian military personnel and public statements calling for, or condoning, such actions must be investigated,

said Bell

Combined with broad amnesty laws, such statements have the potential to incite or encourage unlawful behaviour,

Bell added

The shooting of prisoners of war is a serious violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War and is classified as a grave international crime,

the statement read

Many Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered or were in physical custody of the Russian armed forces were shot dead on the spot. Witness accounts also described the killings of unarmed and injured Ukrainian soldiers,

the mission said in a statement

We urge everyone to refrain from spreading unverified information and to rely solely on official sources. To ensure the aggressor state's accountability, every war crime is carefully documented, and the relevant information is being submitted to international legal institutions."

Quote from Dobroserdov

These incidents did not occur in a vacuum. Public figures in the Russian Federation have explicitly called for inhumane treatment, and even execution, of captured Ukrainian military personnel,

said Danielle Bell, head of the mission

Acting on orders from Russian special services, the man travelled to Sarny, Rivne Oblast, in January 2025, to blow up railway tracks at a key station used for transporting military equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, law enforcement intervened and foiled the sabotage attempt."

Quote from Prosecutor General’s Office

However, the national cause of defending Ukraine is impossible without nationwide support for the army and respect for servicemen,

Syrskyi added

The Ground Forces are working to overcome existing problems at the military enlistment offices, correcting mistakes and improving the quality of work,

Syrskyi reported

We expect a full and comprehensive investigation into these crimes. The guilty parties must be punished accordingly,

he said

We need better protection – air defence systems, long-range weapons and sanctions pressure,

he said

We have no right to silently observe the growing wave of contempt toward defenders of Ukraine,

Drapatyi said in a statement on social media