“They laid down their weapons, raised their hands”: Russia has executed at least 345 surrendered Ukrainian soldiers on the ground
Dmytro Lubinets says the executions are a part of a systematic and rising pattern.
Ukrainian officials have reported that Russian forces have executed at least 345 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered during the ongoing war. This disturbing pattern of war crimes is confirmed by the Ukrainian Ombudsperson Dmytro Lubinets, who presented the latest figures to international media. The figure represents a growing trend, with Ukraine's prosecutors and international observers tracking these executions, from 268 in July 2025 to over 330 by March 2026.
The victims were identified as those who surrendered, laying down their weapons, raising their hands, and lying on the ground to demonstrate their non-combatant status. Upon verification, Russian soldiers then killed them. Lubinets emphasized that the act of killing surrendered soldiers is a clear violation of international law, explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.
Despite the legal prohibition, the killings continue to rise, and accountability remains elusive, as the perpetrators are typically located in Russia, beyond reach of Ukrainian justice.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
