The Zaporizhia Regional Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the shooting of three Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers in the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhia Oblast. Video footage of the incident, which occurred on February 18, was released today by the DeepState think tank.
Criminal proceedings were initiated 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 were part of the 3rd Spartan Operational Brigade. However, analysts later corrected this information and noted that they were conducting additional research into the name of this unit.
According to DeepState, Russian forces launched an offensive from the south on February 18 and captured part of a large stronghold where three fighters were stationed. The video shows Ukrainian fighters emerging from a trench and surrendering. A few moments of observation, after which shooting begins, leading to their deaths.
There has been no official comment on this situation from the Tavria OTU so far.
The Russian side has not yet provided an official comment on the execution of prisoners in Robotyne.
The shootings in Avdiivka and Vesely became the subject of an investigation by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office on February 18. The incident occurred at the "Zenit" position in Avdiivka, where six seriously wounded defenders of the 110th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were shot dead. A criminal case has been opened in connection with a violation of military norms and premeditated murder.
According to the investigation, information about this execution appeared in one of the Telegram channels. Later, the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after General-Coroner Mark Bezruchko confirmed the death of at least five of its fighters: Georgy Pavlov, Andriy Dubnytskyi, Ivan Zhitnyk, Oleksandr Zinchuk and Mykola Savosik.
The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office indicates that the defenders were seriously injured and could not move independently, awaiting evacuation.
In turn, the 110th Brigade published a message on its Facebook page, where it noted that due to the encirclement of the Zenit position, Ukraine turned to organizations coordinating the exchange of prisoners to help its fighters. The Russian side agreed to evacuate the wounded Ukrainian soldiers with a subsequent exchange.
However, information was given to the wounded several hours before the Russians arrived. They were ordered not to resist and to save their lives. However, one of the wounded, Ivan, expressed doubts about the Russians saving the lives of the wounded.
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 finishes them off with automatic weapons.
The killing of prisoners of war is a serious violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and a grave international crime.
Ukraine has repeatedly accused the Russian military of such crimes. For example, in December 2023, the Ukrainian military command reported that Russian servicemen near Avdiivka shot two Ukrainian fighters who had surrendered. A video of this event, filmed 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!” It was later revealed that the deceased was a sniper from the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Chernihiv Region, 42-year-old Oleksandr Matsievsky.
In the video of the execution, you can see a Ukrainian soldier standing in the forest, smoking in a trench or dug hole, and then, after shouts of “Glory to Ukraine!”, he was shot.
