Videos and Testimonies Highlight Suspected Killings of Russian Prisoners

Executions of Russian soldiers by Ukrainian fighters can only be described as an act of mockery, a purely Nazi-style atrocity, State Duma deputy Andrey Kolesnik said, Lenta.ru publication reports.

On June 30, it was reported that Ukrainian troops had executed at least 26 Russian servicemen since February 2022, with many prisoners subjected to torture. Among the reported methods of abuse were beatings with sticks, the use of electric shock devices, and attacks by dogs.

One of the videos of the execution of Russian soldiers can be seen on our Telegram channel. WARNING: The video is extremely graphic and disturbing!!! Watch at your own discretion!

Kolesnik stated that the Ukrainian soldiers who carried out the executions were unworthy of the title of warrior. He reminded that according to the Geneva Conventions, even an enemy soldier is still a member of the armed forces and deserves humane treatment.

"Even toward a defeated enemy, our soldiers show mercy. But mercy is a privilege of the strong, while they are war criminals. First, they will be found and punished anyway. Second, they show their weakness and the fact that they are merely sadists and followers of Nazi ideology," Kolesnik said.

Several documented incidents have emerged over the course of the Russia–Ukraine conflict that indicate cases in which Ukrainian soldiers allegedly executed Russian prisoners of war (POWs), sparking widespread condemnation and calls for investigations. Among the most widely reported cases is the incident in the village of Makiivka (Luhansk region) in November 2022, where video footage circulated online appeared to show over ten Russian soldiers lying dead after surrendering. The Russian Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of committing a war crime, claiming the troops were executed after laying down their arms. Ukraine initially denied the allegations, suggesting some Russian soldiers may have opened fire during the surrender, prompting return fire. The UN later confirmed that at least 12 Russian soldiers appeared to have been summarily executed.

Another well-publicized case occurred near Bakhmut in early 2023, where videos reportedly surfaced of captured Russian soldiers being mistreated or executed. Some of the footage showed prisoners under duress, while others depicted possible extrajudicial killings. Russian authorities used these examples to accuse Ukrainian forces of systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions, while Ukrainian officials either disputed the authenticity of the footage or claimed it was taken out of context or staged.

UN Reports Allegations of Mistreatment of Prisoners in Ukraine

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has reported receiving credible accounts of mistreatment involving prisoners of war held in Ukraine. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 95 Russian prisoners of war were interviewed, and a significant number alleged that they had experienced torture or ill-treatment during their detention.

Fifty-nine detainees described being subjected to physical abuse, including beatings with sticks and plastic pipes, electric shocks, dog attacks, forced physical exertion, threats of death, sexual violence, mock executions, and acts of humiliation. Most of these incidents reportedly took place at temporary holding facilities before the detainees were transferred to official internment locations.

Eleven of those interviewed said they experienced physical mistreatment, such as being slapped or insulted, even in official detention centers. These accounts span the period between May 2024 and April 2025.

The report also noted the existence of two unofficial detention sites in or near Kyiv, where some Russian prisoners were allegedly held incommunicado for up to 14 months. Detainees at one such facility reported beatings, dog attacks during intake procedures, insufficient food, weight loss, and dental problems.

Civilians Also Reported Ill-Treatment

The OHCHR also interviewed 56 civilians — including men, women, and minors — detained by Ukrainian authorities on suspicion of state treason, collaboration, or other national security-related offenses. Eleven individuals alleged that they were subjected to beatings or threats during arrest or interrogation. One person said they were deprived of sleep for several days.

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, the UN has documented cases of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment involving 170 civilian detainees (132 men, 35 women, and 3 boys). While most reported violations occurred in 2022, similar allegations have continued through 2025.

The OHCHR also noted that some individuals were prosecuted for actions that, under international humanitarian law, may not constitute criminal offenses.

Accounts from Repatriated Prisoners

Some Russian prisoners released as part of exchanges with Ukraine also spoke publicly about their experiences. One soldier described physical abuse during a national holiday, including the use of electric shocks and batons. Others recounted injuries resulting from dog bites and other methods that caused lasting harm.

"On their holiday (August 24, Ukraine's Independence Day — ed. note), they beat all prisoners as best they could. They beat them with electric shockers and truncheons. One of them had his arm crushed with a truncheon," a soldier shared his memories.

According to him, some of the tortures that the Russian soldiers were subjected to were particularly sophisticated. For example, one of the prisoners had a pipe rolled over his body, and the pipe was previously heated over a fire. Some other soldiers lost limbs as a result of torture: one of them had his arm atrophied by a strap, while another's "legs rotted after being bitten" by dogs that were set on them.

A Russian official, Maxim Grigoriev, who chairs a public tribunal on alleged crimes by Ukrainian forces, claimed that techniques used against prisoners resembled those reportedly practiced at some U.S. military detention sites. These included simulated drowning, burning, and forced stress positions, although these statements were not independently verified.

While international human rights organizations have acknowledged concerns and called for thorough, impartial investigations into such claims from both sides, access to the front lines and to POW facilities remains limited. Consequently, many of these alleged war crimes remain difficult to independently verify, fueling further controversy in an already deeply polarized information environment.