Ukrainian national security officials have opened an investigation into the killing of five Ukrainian prisoners of war on October 2. Ukrainian investigators say Russian forces captured five unarmed Ukrainian soldiers during an attack on their positions near Vuhledar. “One was killed in a wooded area, while the other four were forced at gunpoint onto a road, where they were also executed,” officials said.

Meduza could not verify this information, but Ukrainian prosecutors published it photographs (probably video stills) showing the bodies of killed POWs.

As of October 22, 2024, Ukrainian authorities have opened 53 criminal cases involving the killing of 177 Ukrainian soldiers. Most of these cases were launched last year. In recent months, Russian executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war have become more frequent. In October and November, prosecutors opened 13 cases involving the deaths of 54 prisoners of war.