Russian occupiers execute five more Ukrainian POWs in Zaporizhzhia

The Russian military in the Zaporizhzhia region recently fired upon five Ukrainian prisoners of war near the town of Novodarivka in Polohivskyi district.

The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office reports this.

As per initial reports, five Ukrainian defenders were shot by Russian army soldiers on November 24 near Novodarivka settlement, Polohivskyi district, within the active war zone. Out of six captives, only one survived.

Law enforcement has identified a Russian army unit whose soldiers are being investigated for their possible involvement in this crime. Additionally, investigators possess a video recording capturing the shooting incident.

The Zaporizhzhia regional prosecutor's office has initiated criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The Prosecutor General's Office emphasized that the killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and qualifies as a grave international crime.

For reference:

Recently, Russian invaders executed five captured service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Pokrovsk front.

Earlier, it was reported that the Russian military shot five Ukrainian prisoners of war near Vuhledar.

Also, in early November, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that the Russians probably shot two Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Kursk region.

It should be noted that the former Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andrii Kostin, stated that about 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war were subjected to torture, rape, threats of sexual violence, or other forms of cruel treatment.

In addition, as the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said, Ukraine is already aware of over a hundred cases of execution by Russian military personnel of Defense Forces fighters who surrendered to captivity.