The United Nations has condemned a disturbing increase in the execution of Ukrainian soldiers by Russian forces, revealing shocking details of extrajudicial killings in the last six months. According to a recent statement from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered were often “shot dead on the spot,” with others executed despite being unarmed or injured.
The mission, which has verified multiple reports, including video footage and witness testimonies, confirmed 79 executions of Ukrainian soldiers across 24 incidents since the end of August 2024. This chilling trend underscores a broader pattern of inhumane treatment and systemic disregard for international humanitarian laws, including the Geneva Conventions.
Calls for Execution from Public Figures in Russia
The UN’s mission points to a concerning climate of impunity, exacerbated by public calls from prominent Russian figures for the execution of captured Ukrainian military personnel. Danielle Bell, the mission’s chief, highlighted how such statements, coupled with Russia’s broad amnesty laws, may be encouraging unlawful conduct by soldiers.
“These incidents did not occur in a vacuum. Public figures in the Russian Federation have explicitly called for inhumane treatment, and even execution, of captured Ukrainian military personnel,” Bell remarked. “All allegations of execution must be investigated thoroughly.”
While the UN mission did not provide historical data for comparison, Ukrainian human rights officials have reported a staggering number of executions. According to Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, Russian forces executed 177 Ukrainian prisoners of war from February 2022 to December 2024. A significant portion of these executions, 109 in total, occurred in 2024 alone.
International Response and Calls for Accountability
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned the killings, referring to the 79 recent executions documented by the UN as “one of the largest campaigns of intentional murder [of prisoners of war] in modern history.” He urged the international community to act swiftly and implement effective legal measures to hold those responsible accountable.
Lubinets echoed this sentiment, stating that the UN’s findings provide crucial evidence of the crimes committed by Russia and should aid in holding the aggressor nation accountable for its actions. Ukrainian authorities have already launched several investigations into these alleged war crimes. Notably, in January 2024, Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General opened a criminal case after a disturbing video emerged showing Russian troops executing six unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war in Donetsk.
A Pattern of Impunity
The troubling frequency with which these executions are filmed and distributed by the perpetrators themselves demonstrates a blatant disregard for both the laws of war and human decency. As human rights lawyer Andriy Butkevych pointed out, this behaviour reflects “complete disregard for the laws and customs of the conduct of war,” adding that it signifies a broader culture of impunity within Russia’s military leadership.
Experts suggest that such executions may also be a way for Russian commanders to maintain control over their forces, particularly when documentary evidence of the crimes is readily available. This, they argue, serves to intimidate soldiers into compliance with orders, even when they involve horrific war crimes.
Lack of Russian Accountability
Despite mounting evidence of these atrocities, Russian authorities have remained silent on the latest accusations. Moscow continues to deny that its soldiers have committed war crimes, despite overwhelming proof to the contrary. The international community now faces the pressing challenge of ensuring justice for these acts and preventing further violations.
