Prosecutors Say Russian Forces Executed 2 Ukrainian POWs Near Dobropillia

What happened

The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported on September 11 that Russian forces executed two Ukrainian prisoners of war near Dobropillia on September 2. The Ukrainian servicemen, members of the National Guard, were captured by Russian troops while on a combat mission in a forest belt near Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast, before allegedly being shot with automatic weapons.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is currently investigating the case under Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which addresses war crimes resulting in death. Investigators are conducting urgent measures to clarify the circumstances and identify the Russian servicemen allegedly involved, according to the prosecutor's office statement.

Execution of prisoners of war is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime. Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, has documented extensive violations by Russian forces, alleging at least 337 captured Ukrainian POWs have been executed by the end of 2025. This alleged latest case would be a continuation of such allegations.

Known from the source

• The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported on September 11, 2026, that two Ukrainian National Guard soldiers were executed near Dobropillia on September 2.
• The Ukrainian servicemen were captured by Russian troops during a combat mission and allegedly shot with automatic weapons.
• The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is investigating the case under war crimes legislation related to prisoner executions.
• Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman reported at least 337 Ukrainian POW executions by Russian forces as of the end of 2025.
• The incident is said to have occurred about a month and a half prior to the report, per lawyer and civic activist Hennadii Druzenko.

What remains unclear

The Donetsk Prosecutor’s report and a Facebook post by lawyer and activist Hennadii Druzenko confirm the incident took place approximately a month and a half ago. However, independent verification of these allegations from non-Ukrainian or neutral sources is not provided in the supplied material.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of the execution incident beyond Ukrainian prosecutorial sources. Identification and confirmation of the Russian servicemen allegedly involved. Whether any independent third-party or international observers have corroborated the claim.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.