Ukraine identifies 4 Russian servicemen who executed Ukrainian POWs in May 2024

This was reported by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

"The episode of the execution was recorded on video: four Ukrainian servicemen with their hands raised and unarmed surrender, the Russians force them to lie down and shoot them at close range," the intelligence reports.

The Russian troops, who committed the war crime, were part of the assault group of the 70th motorized rifle regiment (unit 71718) of the 42nd motorized rifle division of the 58th army of the southern district of the Russian Armed Forces.

At the time of the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war near Robotyne, the 70th motorized rifle regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Abayev, call sign "Buyvol".

Servicemen of the 70th motorized rifle regiment of the Russian occupation army are also involved in the war crime: 

• Captain Nagorny Dmitry Olegovich, born on 21.11.1995 - commander of the 2nd battalion; 
• Senior Lieutenant Abutalimov Temirlan Umarovich, born on 02.05.1997, commander of the 1st assault company; 
• Lieutenant Bekov Zaur Sergeyevich, born on 16.07.1997, commander of the 3rd assault company; 
• Senior Lieutenant Imagazaliev Yusup Paizulaevich, born on 18.07.1999, - commander of the 6th assault company. 

According to intelligence, these Russian servicemen may also be involved in the murder of several more Ukrainian prisoners of war later in May 2024.  This is evidenced by radio intercepts of a conversation between the occupation forces from the 70th Regiment of the Russian Federation, during which one of the Russian assault company commanders ordered his subordinates to shoot Ukrainian soldiers. 

• Recently, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that since February 24, 2022, the Russian troops have executed at least 61 Ukrainian prisoners of war, four occupying Russian servicemen have been notified of suspicion, and one sentence has been passed.