Rising Executions of Ukrainian Prisoners of War Highlight Escalating Atrocities

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The execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces has become an increasingly grim reality since the start of the full-scale invasion. Among the harrowing cases is that of Oleksandr Matsievsky, a Ukrainian sniper captured by Russian troops during the first year of the conflict. A video later emerged showing Matsievsky smoking a cigarette near what appears to be a grave he was forced to dig. In his final moments, he defiantly declares, "Glory to Ukraine!" before being executed by gunfire.

 

This tragic episode is one of many. Reports surfaced in October of this year that nine Ukrainian soldiers were executed by Russian forces in the Kursk region. Ukrainian prosecutors are investigating the case, which includes a chilling photograph showing half-naked bodies strewn on the ground. The photo provided enough detail for Ruslan Holubenko, a drone operator, to be identified by his grieving parents. "I recognized him by his underwear," his mother told local broadcaster Suspilne Chernihiv, recounting how she had purchased it for him before a trip. "I also knew that his shoulder had been shot through. You could see that in the picture."

 

The scope of these atrocities is vast. Ukrainian prosecutors are also examining reports of beheadings and the brutal use of a sword to execute a soldier whose hands were tied behind his back. In another documented incident, a video showed 16 Ukrainian soldiers being lined up and gunned down with automatic fire after surrendering in a wooded area. Some of these executions were captured on video by Russian forces themselves, while others were observed by Ukrainian drones.

 

These killings often occur in remote areas such as forests and fields, making it challenging to confirm precise locations. However, investigative efforts have verified some instances, such as a beheading, where victims were clearly wearing Ukrainian uniforms. The Ukrainian prosecution service has recorded at least 147 executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces since the invasion began, with 127 of these occurring in 2023 alone.

 

"The upward trend is very clear, very obvious," stated Yuri Belousov, head of the War Department at the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office.

 

"Executions became systemic from November last year and have continued throughout all of this year. Sadly, their number has been particularly on the rise this summer and autumn. This tells us that they are not isolated cases. They are happening across vast areas and they have clear signs of being part of a policy—there is evidence that instructions to this effect are being issued."

 

Rachel Denber, Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the substantial evidence supporting these allegations. "Impunity plays a key part," she explained, adding that the Russian military faces significant questions regarding the apparent systemic nature of these crimes.

 

As the war drags on, the rising number of executions underscores not only the brutality of the conflict but also the urgent need for accountability in the face of such widespread atrocities.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-12-23