•••Evidence Emerges of Systematic Killings Amid Ongoing Conflict
Ukrainian sniper Oleksandr Matsievsky’s tragic fate highlights a growing crisis as reports reveal an alarming increase in the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces. Captured during the initial stages of the invasion, Matsievsky was filmed smoking his last cigarette beside a grave he was forced to dig before being shot dead, uttering the words “Glory to Ukraine!” in a final act of defiance.
Recent investigations by BBC have uncovered a pattern of brutality, including the execution of nine Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region and graphic evidence of beheadings and other horrific acts. The Ukrainian prosecution service has documented at least 147 executions since the onset of the full-scale invasion, with 127 occurring this year alone.
Experts assert that these killings are not isolated incidents but part of a broader policy, raising serious concerns about the treatment of prisoners under international humanitarian law. Despite the clear violations, there has been little accountability, with Russian authorities dismissing allegations and failing to investigate claims of war crimes.
As the conflict intensifies, the harrowing reality is that some Ukrainian soldiers are choosing death over capture, fearing the brutal fate that awaits them at the hands of their captors.
According to Vladimir Putin, Russian forces have “always” treated Ukrainian prisoners of war “strictly in line with international legal documents and international conventions”.
Ukrainian forces have also been accused of executing Russian prisoners of war, but the number of such claims has been much smaller.
Yuri Belousov says that the Ukrainian prosecution service treats such accusations “very seriously” and is investigating them – but so far no one has been charged.
According to Human Rights Watch, since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022 the Russian forces have committed “a litany of violations, including those which should be investigated as war crimes or crimes against humanity”.
