Russian Army Executed Hundreds of Ukrainian POWs Since 2022, Kyiv Claims
Poinews.com – Lyudmyla Dubnytska’s final communication with her husband suggested he was facing capture by Russian forces. Two days later, she identified his body in a social media video showing a group of slain Ukrainian troops. Her partner, Andriy Dubnytsky, is one of the many prisoners of war Kyiv asserts have been executed by Russia since its full-scale invasion began in 2022. The exact number of victims remains uncertain, with discrepancies noted across Ukrainian and international reports, but Kyiv alleges these killings reflect a calculated strategy by Moscow.
A Personal Tragedy Amid War Crimes Allegations
Dubnytsky, 25, was killed in February 2024 during Ukraine’s retreat from Avdiivka, a key battleground in the eastern front. Wounded while attempting to withdraw, he stayed at his position alongside five comrades, four of whom were also injured. Despite their hope for evacuation, they were captured. On 15 February, Dubnytsky called his wife, expressing extreme anxiety and tears, as reported by AFP. The couple had vowed to have a child when reunited, a sibling for their young daughter.
“He was extremely nervous and was crying,” Dubnytska, 27, told AFP.
Shortly after, he sent a message indicating their probable capture. Then, his signal vanished. A video shared by Ukrainian media later revealed what likely transpired: during a call to a relative, Ivan Zhytnyk was ordered by a Russian soldier to surrender, leading to his death. Two days later, Dubnytska spotted a video on Russian social media depicting five bodies in a frozen puddle, their blood staining the ground. She recognized the cross tattoo on one hand as her husband’s.
Investigations and Accusations
The 110th brigade confirmed the deaths of several soldiers, including Dubnytsky and Zhytnyk, accusing Russian forces of breaking evacuation agreements. Ukrainian prosecutors launched an inquiry into the “shooting of unarmed prisoners of war.” Officials noted a rise in executions starting in 2023, with Atamantchuk, a prosecutor from the General Prosecutor’s Office, stating that commanders have issued orders to carry out such acts.
“This stems from a Russian policy that has effectively encouraged and enabled such crimes,” Atamantchuk said.
Moscow has dismissed the claims, accusing Kyiv of similar war crimes. A recent UN report cited 129 verified executions of Ukrainian POWs, highlighting a “marked increase” in such cases from the previous year. Kyiv has opened 116 investigations into the deaths of 306 servicemen since 2022, with Atamantchuk asserting the total is likely higher. Ukrainian intelligence officials estimate over 900 military personnel killed in more than 340 incidents, suggesting the figure may represent 25 to 40 percent of all such cases.
Methodological Differences and Evidence
Ukrainian prosecutors rely on “documented and proven facts,” while intelligence services gather “information more quickly” from frontline units and other sources. Moscow has consistently rejected accusations of war crimes, countering with claims that Kyiv is responsible. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Wagner paramilitary group, which was disbanded after a 2023 rebellion, played a role in setting the tone for executions through its ranks of ex-prisoners, many convicted of violent offenses.
Ukraine alleges that most victims are shot dead, with a viral 2023 video showing a Russian soldier firing at a Ukrainian soldier after he shouted “Glory to Ukraine.” Investigators have also uncovered cases of brutal murders, including beheadings, which have circulated on Russian social media. So far, only five Russian soldiers have been convicted in Ukraine, two in absentia, according to Atamantchuk. The complexity of investigations, due to limited access to combat zones, hinders judicial progress. However, Atamantchuk remains hopeful of eventually “doing justice” to the families, even if it means providing “the names of those who killed their loved ones.”
“Learning the identity of my husband’s killer would be ‘senseless,’ ” Dubnytska said.
