Ukraine says Russia ordered civilian killings near Pokrovsk

Ukrainian intelligence exposes Russian unit tasked with civilian killings in Pokrovsk© RBC-Ukraine (UK)

Ukrainian military intelligence has released new evidence alleging that Russian forces were ordered to deliberately kill civilians in eastern Ukraine, reinforcing claims of systematic war crimes in occupied areas.

According to Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), Russian troops operating near the village of Zelenyi Hai, close to Pokrovsk, were instructed to clear a building known to contain civilians and leave no survivors.

Ukrainian intelligence published an intercepted radio conversation in which a Russian commander gives explicit orders to kill everyone inside the structure. In the recording, one soldier is heard stating: “Where there are civilians – kill them all. This big building.”

HUR says it has identified the unit responsible as Shtorm unit, a detachment made up largely of former inmates and attached to the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian army.

In an official statement, Ukrainian intelligence described the intercepted communications as further proof that Russian forces are intentionally targeting civilians in temporarily occupied territories. The agency said the evidence demonstrates a “systematic pattern” of war crimes rather than isolated incidents.

Ukrainian officials stressed that all individuals involved in issuing or carrying out such orders are being documented and identified. Intelligence officers warned that those responsible would ultimately face accountability, promising what they described as “just retribution” for the killing of Ukrainian civilians.

The disclosure follows previous HUR reports based on radio interceptions indicating that Russian troops in the Donetsk region had received standing orders to kill civilians during ground operations. Ukrainian authorities say these findings will be shared with international partners and could be used in future war crimes investigations.

Key Takeaways

• Ukraine released intercepted audio ordering Russian troops to kill civilians.

• The unit identified includes former prisoners in the Shtorm detachment.

• Intelligence officials say the evidence shows systematic war crimes.

Ukrainian intelligence exposes Russian unit tasked with civilian killings in Pokrovsk