Ukraine military says Russian troops executed POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

What happened

The Kyiv Independent reports that Ukrainian military sources allege Russian troops executed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) on the Huliaipole front in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The claim comes from Maksym Kravchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Forces Group, who said Ukrainian forces intercepted Russian radio communications ordering troops to kill wounded soldiers 'immediately.'

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. According to the source, Russian soldiers who carried out the alleged executions are believed to belong to the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, reportedly acting under orders from its commander, Colonel Valery Kazak. Ukrainian officials say the intercepted materials have been handed over to law enforcement authorities for further investigation.

The execution of POWs is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime. Ukrainian military sources have previously accused Russian forces of similar actions in the Huliaipole sector, including a November 2025 incident where five Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly captured and executed near the village of Zelenyi Hai, which has been partially confirmed by Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office.

Known from the source

• Ukrainian military spokesperson Maksym Kravchuk reported intercepted Russian radio communications ordering execution of wounded Ukrainian POWs.
• The alleged incident occurred on the Huliaipole front in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
• Russian troops implicated are believed to be from the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, under Colonel Valery Kazak.
• Previous similar allegations occurred in the same sector, including a November 2025 incident involving five Ukrainian POWs reportedly executed.
• Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman reported at least 345 Ukrainian soldiers have been executed by Russian forces since the start of the invasion.

What remains unclear

An August 2026 estimate from Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, cited at least 345 Ukrainian soldiers executed by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion began. The current allegations add to ongoing scrutiny regarding the treatment of POWs and the conduct of Russian troops in contested regions.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Precise date and location of the alleged executions. Independent verification of the intercepted communications. Confirmation of the unit and chain of command implicated.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.