Russia is executing more and more Ukrainian prisoners of war

In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a soldier named Oleksandr Matsievsky has become a powerful symbol of bravery after his tragic execution by Russian forces. Oleksandr, a skilled sniper, was captured during the early stages of the full-scale invasion. A haunting video surfaced showing him smoking a final cigarette in a forest, seemingly next to a grave he had been forced to dig. With unwavering spirit, he declared 'Glory to Ukraine! ' to his captors just moments before they shot him. This heartbreaking incident is not an isolated case; it is part of a disturbing trend of executions of Ukrainian soldiers. In October, reports emerged of nine captured Ukrainian soldiers being shot dead by Russian forces in the Kursk region. Ukrainian prosecutors have even released a photo depicting the bodies of these soldiers lying on the ground, which led to the identification of one victim, drone operator Ruslan Holubenko, by his parents. His mother recounted, 'I recognized him by his underwear. I bought it for him before a trip to the sea. ' This personal connection highlights the deep emotional toll these events take on families. The list of executions continues to grow, with Ukrainian prosecutors actively investigating numerous cases. Evidence has surfaced of soldiers being executed even when they were not engaged in combat. In one particularly shocking instance, a video showed 16 Ukrainian soldiers being lined up and shot after they attempted to surrender. Some of these executions were filmed by Russian soldiers themselves, while others were captured by Ukrainian drones monitoring the situation from above. The videos often depict the killings occurring in wooded areas or open fields, making it challenging to pinpoint their exact locations. However, BBC Verify has confirmed that many of these videos are authentic and that the victims were indeed wearing Ukrainian military uniforms. According to the Ukrainian prosecution service, at least 147 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been executed by Russian forces since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, with 127 of those executions occurring this year alone. Yuri Belousov, the head of the War Department at the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office, stated, 'The upward trend is very clear, very obvious. ' He explained that these executions have become systematic since November of last year and have continued to rise throughout this year, particularly during the summer and autumn months. This alarming trend suggests that these acts are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader policy. International humanitarian law is designed to protect prisoners of war, and executing them is classified as a war crime. Despite this, Ramzan Kadyrov, the powerful leader of Chechnya, has openly stated his intention to engage in the Ukraine war 'to take no prisoners. ' In Ukraine, citizens frequently gather to show their support for their troops who are held captive by Russian forces. Rachel Denber, the Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that there is no shortage of evidence supporting allegations of Ukrainian prisoners of war being executed by Russian troops. She raised critical questions regarding the instructions given to Russian military units, both formally and informally, by their commanders. 'What steps is the chain of command taking to investigate these instances? ' she asked. 'If higher-ups are not investigating or taking steps to prevent such conduct, are they aware that they too are criminally liable and can be held accountable? ' So far, there has been no indication that Russia is conducting any formal investigations into claims of its forces executing Ukrainian prisoners of war. In fact, discussing similar allegations is often met with resistance in Russia. Russian officials have consistently claimed that they treat Ukrainian prisoners of war 'strictly in line with international legal documents and international conventions. ' While there have been accusations of Ukrainian forces executing Russian prisoners of war, the number of such claims has been significantly lower. Yuri Belousov noted that the Ukrainian prosecution service takes these accusations seriously and is actively investigating them, but as of now, no charges have been filed. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Russian forces have committed numerous violations that warrant investigation as potential war crimes or crimes against humanity. The record of abuses by the Russian army is so severe that some Ukrainian soldiers would rather face death than risk capture. One mother shared her son's words, saying, 'He told me: Mum, I'll never surrender, never. Forgive me, I know you'll cry, but I don't want to be tortured. ' She continues to hold onto hope for her son, who is still officially classified as missing in action, and she often gazes at his photo, wishing against hope that he is merely unconscious and not lost forever.