268 Ukrainian POWs Executed by Russian Forces – Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office Investigates

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, at least 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been executed by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion. As of May 2025, 75 criminal proceedings are being investigated, with documented killings accelerating significantly in 2024 and 2025. Ukrainian officials cite direct orders from senior Russian political and military leadership as the cause of the surge. In March 2025, the UN confirmed 27 execution incidents since August 2024, killing 84 Ukrainian soldiers. Reports of torture, abuse, and executions continue to emerge, with the Institute for the Study of War warning that Russian commanders are likely encouraging or directly ordering such crimes. The original news was published on the website of Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service).