Ukraine Condemns Russia for Alleged Execution of Captured Soldiers
Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, has strongly condemned the alleged execution of nine captured Ukrainian soldiers by Russian forces near the border in the Kursk region. Lubinets has appealed to international bodies, including the United Nations and the Red Cross, accusing Russia of violating the rules and customs of war.
These accusations surfaced after the Ukrainian defense analysis platform, DeepState, released drone footage that reportedly showed the bodies of the Ukrainian soldiers. According to the report, the soldiers—believed to be drone operators—were left stripped down to their underwear, lying face down in a field. While the authenticity of the footage cannot be independently confirmed by outlets like the BBC, it has sparked widespread outrage.
Lubinets took to Telegram, stating, “These heinous acts must not go unpunished. The perpetrators must be held accountable.” He urged the international community to take notice and respond to what he described as war crimes.
Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russia of executing prisoners of war, which is a breach of the Geneva Conventions. Ukraine’s prosecutor general recently reported that 93 Ukrainian soldiers have been executed by Russian forces since the start of the conflict. Investigations are also underway into a separate incident where 16 Ukrainian soldiers were allegedly executed near Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk. This, if confirmed, would be the largest mass execution of Ukrainian POWs since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Moscow has consistently denied any involvement in war crimes throughout the ongoing conflict.
The accusations come amid ongoing battles in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have launched an incursion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that his troops had successfully repelled a fresh Russian assault. Analysts believe Kyiv’s offensive in Kursk aims to force Russia to divert its military efforts from eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been steadily advancing.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates that Russian troop numbers in Kursk have surged to around 40,000, a significant increase from the 11,000 deployed earlier this summer. However, Kyiv’s push in Kursk has so far failed to halt Russia’s momentum in the eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces continue to face relentless attacks.
Zelensky acknowledged the difficult circumstances in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia during his nightly address, describing the intense fighting as “harsh and unforgiving.” Meanwhile, Russian forces claimed to have captured the village of Mykhailivka, a critical location near the city of Pokrovsk. Should Pokrovsk fall, Ukraine’s ability to resupply its forces in other strategic areas could be severely hindered.
Overnight, Russia launched a barrage of attacks, deploying 68 drones and four missiles targeting Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian air defense systems in Kyiv reported they had intercepted many of the threats, but the strikes remain part of Russia’s ongoing aerial campaign.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides locked in fierce combat across multiple fronts. The world watches as Ukraine continues to resist under increasingly challenging conditions.
