Russian troops executed Ukrainian POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, military says
The Russian soldiers are believed to belong to the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is operating in the area. Kravchuk alleged that orders of this nature within the brigade are issued at the initiative of its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak.
Ukrainian military spokesperson Maksym Kravchuk alleges that Russian forces executed two Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) on the Huliaipole front in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a claim reported by the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 17. According to Kravchuk, intercepted radio communications between Russian soldiers revealed orders to kill wounded Ukrainian soldiers, including two unarmed POWs.
The incident occurred several days before it was publicly disclosed, and the exact date and location of the alleged executions have not been confirmed. The Russian soldiers involved are believed to be from the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is currently operating in the area. Kravchuk claims that orders of this nature were issued by the brigade's commander, Colonel Valery Kazak.
The Ukrainian military has handed over intercepted communications and other relevant materials to law enforcement authorities. The execution of prisoners of war is a violation of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime. Russian forces have previously been accused of executing Ukrainian POWs in the Huliaipole sector, most notably in November 2025 when five Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly captured and executed near the village of Zelenyi Hai.
Brief written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
