Russian Forces Systematically Violating the Rights of Prisoners of War: Over 270 Ukrainian Defenders at Risk of Secret Killings
Since the start of Russia's large-scale invasion, Russian troops have committed numerous crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war, which are considered war crimes under international law. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, at least 273 deaths of Ukrainian prisoners have been documented, occurring without proper judicial proceedings or thorough investigations. From these cases, 77 criminal cases have been initiated, with suspicions already notified to seven Russian servicemen. Three of the accused have already received court sentences, two of whom are convicted, while proceedings continue against another. It is crucial to highlight that over the past six months, investigators have documented 22 cases involving the murder of 56 Ukrainian prisoners, entered into a single pre-trial register. This evidence confirms both the systemic nature and the scale of crimes committed throughout the ongoing war. The most notorious mass killing was the attack on Olenivka prison in July 2022, when Russian forces shelled inmate facility No. 120 in occupied Donetsk region. The attack resulted in at least 50 Ukrainian military personnel killed, nine of whom died due to lack of urgent medical assistance, while nearly 150 others were wounded. According to CNN reports, the Russian command deliberately orders their soldiers to kill surrendered Ukrainian prisoners, indicating a systematic and merciless approach, flagrantly ignoring international humanitarian standards. The ongoing abuses and murders demonstrate the brutal treatment of Ukrainian defenders, raising serious concerns about war crimes and violations of human rights under international law.