Allegations Emerge from Zaporizhzhia
Russian forces have reportedly executed at least two captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The incident, which allegedly occurred on or around November 13, 2025, near the settlement of Zatyshshia, was brought to light by the Ukrainian analytical and mapping organization Deep State on November 15, 2025. Deep State also published a video purportedly showing the moment of the execution.
According to Deep State, the Russian soldiers involved in the alleged execution were subsequently eliminated by an FPV drone approximately 20 minutes later. The organization noted that the incident occurred after Russian forces reportedly infiltrated Ukrainian positions, highlighting the dangers even several kilometers from the front line.
Official Condemnation and Criminal Investigation
Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, swiftly condemned the alleged killings, describing them as a 'grave violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions' and a 'serious international crime'. Lubinets emphasized that such actions are not isolated incidents but rather demonstrate a 'systemic pattern of criminal behavior by the aggressor state'.
In response to the reports, Ombudsman Lubinets announced that he had sent official letters to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations (UN), urging the international community to respond immediately to these alleged systemic violations by Russia.
Further official action was taken by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor's Office, which launched a criminal investigation on November 16, 2025. The investigation is being conducted under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, pertaining to violations of the laws and customs of war combined with intentional murder. While initial reports from Deep State mentioned two soldiers, the prosecutor's office stated its investigation concerns the shooting of three captured Ukrainian soldiers on November 14, 2025, in the Huliaipole district of Zaporizhzhia region.
International Law and Broader Context
The execution of prisoners of war is strictly prohibited under the Geneva Conventions, which mandate that POWs must be treated humanely and protected from violence, intimidation, and any unlawful acts. Violations of these conventions are classified as war crimes under international law.
This incident is not an isolated case. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) has previously documented over 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being summarily executed after surrendering to Russian forces. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine also reported in March (presumably 2024) on the execution of at least 32 Ukrainian POWs in 12 separate incidents between December 2023 and February (presumably 2024).
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is actively investigating allegations of torture and execution of Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has affirmed that such cases fall within the court's mandate, emphasizing that 'even wars have rules, and no one has the right to execute a civilian or a prisoner of war.'
5 Comments
KittyKat
Ukrainian propaganda again. Can't trust anything from 'Deep State'.
Noir Black
The calls for accountability are absolutely justified if these reports are accurate, as war crimes undermine all humanity. But we also need to be cautious about immediate condemnation without a full, impartial inquiry, as information can be manipulated.
BuggaBoom
Where's the proof? This sounds like a staged narrative to gain sympathy.
Leonardo
Sickening. These monsters deserve the full force of international justice.
Raphael
If true, these are horrific war crimes that demand investigation. However, verifying battlefield claims from either side is incredibly difficult amidst active conflict.