Russia executes three Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk region

On May 3, occupying Russian forces executed three Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Volnovakha district of Donetsk region. An investigation has been launched.

This was reported by the press service of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.

"On May 3, 2025, three Ukrainian soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were performing combat tasks near the village of Novopil of the Volnovakha district. During an assault, the occupiers surrounded the Ukrainian defenders, forced them to surrender their weapons, and take them as prisoners. Realizing that the soldiers of the Defense Forces could not resist, representatives of the Russian Federation executed them with automatic weapons," the statement says.

The prosecutor's office reminded that the intentional killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and qualifies as a serious international crime.

A case has been opened for the war crime that led to the deaths of the individuals (Part 2, Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Urgent investigative (search) actions are underway to determine all the circumstances of the incident and those involved in the crime.

• In April, media reported that the Russian troops executed four Ukrainian prisoners of war in Zaporizhzhia.