Russian troops shot five Ukrainian prisoners of war near the village of Novodarivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. This information made public Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Active hostilities continue in this part of the Pologiv district. According to the investigation, the Russian military captured six Ukrainian defenders, after which five of them were executed. This flagrant violation of international law became the basis for the opening of criminal proceedings under Part 2 Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which refers to a violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder.
Ukrainian investigators have already identified a unit of the Russian army involved in this crime, and are checking specific individuals for participation in the executions. A video was also obtained, which captured the moment of the killing of the prisoners.
Systematic killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the occupiers cause serious concern. As of November 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement officers are investigating 53 criminal proceedings related to the shootings of 177 Ukrainian soldiers. In October and November, 13 more proceedings related to the executions of 54 defenders were opened.
Compared to previous years, the number of such proceedings has increased by more than four times. The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime that requires thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
