Ukrainian POW execution in Avdiivka: Ombudsman urges Red Cross and UN intervention

Lubinets communicated this urgency via Telegram. 

He stated, "As Ukraine's ombudsman, I've promptly reached out to the ICRC and the UN to document this war crime and investigate all aspects."

Highlighting Russia's repeated breaches of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, Lubinets expressed concern over the execution of prisoners of war.

Lubinets explained that the withdrawal from Avdiivka occurred amid relentless bombings, making it challenging to evacuate severely wounded soldiers. Escape routes and vehicles were targeted by the occupiers.

"In response to the Zenit stronghold's complete encirclement, the command engaged in dialogue with coordination centers and organizations negotiating with the enemy. The focus was on providing aid to seriously wounded, unarmed military personnel, following international laws and rules protecting prisoners of war," the ombudsman stated.

While the Russians initially agreed to save the lives of severely wounded servicemen, offer assistance, and facilitate an exchange, Lubinets revealed that they were ultimately executed.

"The families of the fallen identified Heorhiy Pavlov, Andriy Dubnytskyi, and Ivan Zhytnyk, accompanied by Oleksandr Zinchuk and Mykola Savosik, who were shot by Russian soldiers. The information about the sixth soldier is pending confirmation," Lubinets added.

• On February 17, the Defense Forces command decided to withdraw units from Avdiivka and reposition for a more advantageous defense. 
• General Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria direction, reported that during the withdrawal, an unspecified number of Ukrainian defenders were captured by the Russians.
• On February 19, Serhii Rakhmanin, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, expressed the opinion that the Armed Forces' withdrawal from Avdiivka should have occurred earlier.