The Zaporizhia Regional Prosecutor's Office has started an investigation into the incident when three Ukrainian prisoners of war were shot dead by Russian soldiers in the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhia Region. A video recording of this event, which took place on February 18, was made public today by the DeepState think tank. 
Criminal proceedings were instituted on the grounds of violation of international laws and military norms, as well as intentional murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The DeepState project reported that the dead Ukrainians belonged to the 3rd Spartan operational brigade. However, analysts later corrected this information and noted that they are conducting additional research on the name of this division.
According to DeepState, Russian troops launched an offensive from the south on February 18 and captured part of a large stronghold where three fighters were stationed. The video shows how Ukrainian fighters come out of the trench and surrender. A few moments of observation, after which the shooting begins, which leads to their deaths.
There has been no official comment on this situation from Tavria Technical University.
The Russian side has not yet provided an official comment on the execution of prisoners in Robotyn.
The shootings in Avdiivka and Veseli became the subject of an investigation on February 18 by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office. The incident took place at the "Zenith" position in Avdiivka, where six seriously wounded defenders of the 110th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were shot. Criminal proceedings have been opened in connection with the violation of military regulations and intentional murder.
According to the investigation, information about this shooting appeared in one of the Telegram channels. Later, the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Colonel-General Mark Bezruchka confirmed the death of at least five of its soldiers: Georgy Pavlov, Andriy Dubnytskyi, Ivan Zhytnyk, Oleksandr Zinchuk and Mykola Savosik.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Donetsk region indicates that the defenders were seriously injured and could not move on their own while waiting for evacuation.
In turn, the 110th brigade published a message on its Facebook page, where it noted that due to the encirclement of the "Zenith" position, Ukraine turned to organizations coordinating the exchange of prisoners to help its fighters. The Russian side agreed to the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers with further exchange.
However, the information was given to the wounded a few hours before the arrival of the Russians. They were ordered not to resist and to save their lives. Nevertheless, one of the wounded, Ivan, expressed doubts about the preservation of the lives of the wounded by the Russians.
The prosecutor's office also accused the Russians of shooting two Ukrainian soldiers on February 18 near the village of Vesele in the Bakhmut district.
In the video from the drone camera, you can see how, during the attack on our positions, a representative of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation shoots at close range first at one of the Ukrainian prisoners of war, and then at the second. Not wanting to leave the prisoners alive, the occupier deliberately kills them with automatic weapons.
The killing of prisoners of war is a serious violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War and a grave international crime.
Ukraine has repeatedly accused the Russian military of similar crimes. For example, in December 2023, the military command of Ukraine reported that Russian servicemen near Avdiivka shot dead two Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered. A video recording of this event, shot by a drone, appeared online on December 2.
Also in March 2023, a video was circulated on social media showing Russians killing an unarmed Ukrainian soldier after he shouted "Glory to Ukraine!" Later it turned out that the deceased was a sniper of the 119th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense of the Chernihiv region, 42-year-old Oleksandr Matsievskyi.
On the video recording of the shooting, you can see how a Ukrainian military man stands in the forest, smoking in a trench or dug hole, and then, after shouting "Glory to Ukraine!", he is shot.
