Russian troops executed at least 15 surrendering Ukrainian soldiers since December

The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch shared its report with the findings, Radio Liberty reports.

On May 2, the organization released a report labeling these incidents as war crimes, emphasizing the necessity for holding the perpetrators accountable.

Previously, unverified videos depicting alleged killings of surrendering soldiers circulated on Telegram channels and Ukrainian media. However, Human Rights Watch confirmed that several such incidents occurred in recent months.

The report details that Human Rights Watch investigated three episodes of alleged extrajudicial executions of at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers by analyzing and verifying drone footage posted on social media on December 2 and 27, 2023, and February 25, 2024. The locations of two of the events captured in the videos were geolocated in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Notably, the footage includes purported orders from a Russian commander directing the killing of surrendering soldiers.

Another video depicting the killing of three Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered was also verified. Additionally, Human Rights Watch examined a video showing six soldiers who had surrendered and were subsequently killed, though the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain less clear.

Legal proceedings have been initiated concerning the violation of laws and customs of war, coupled with premeditated murder.

Extrajudicial killings of Ukrainian prisoners or surrendering soldiers have been previously reported, suggesting that these incidents are not isolated, as highlighted in the report. In March, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented reports of at least 32 captured military personnel or Ukrainians who surrendered since December, although not all reports could be substantiated.

Human Rights Watch has reached out to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for information on the described cases and to ascertain whether Russian soldiers are ordered to kill surrendering Ukrainian soldiers instead of taking them prisoner. However, no response has been received.

The Russian Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the publication, although it has previously denied allegations of killing Ukrainians who surrendered, citing instances of captured Russian soldiers being killed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has reported ongoing investigations into 27 criminal cases involving the executions of 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war, among over 5,000 total criminal cases being examined for alleged crimes committed by the Russian military during the full-scale invasion.

The killing of prisoners of war or those who surrender constitutes a war crime under international law and is prohibited by the laws of both countries.