The Office of the Prosecutor General announced the launch of a pre-trial investigation into another war crime committed by Russian military personnel — the deliberate shooting of three captured Ukrainian soldiers.
According to the investigation, on 3 May 2025, near the village of Novopil in the Volnovakha district, during combat operations, Russian troops surrounded Ukrainian defenders, forced them to lay down their arms and surrender.
‘Realising that the Defence Forces could not resist, representatives of the Russian Armed Forces shot them with automatic weapons,’ the statement said.
The Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office has launched a pre-trial investigation under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war, resulting in the death of people).
The shooting of prisoners is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and qualifies as a serious international crime. The investigation is ongoing.