Russian army executed at least 15 surrendering Ukrainian soldiers since December, HRW report says

Russian forces have allegedly executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers who were attempting to surrender since the beginning of December 2023, according to a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. 

The US-based organisation called for the five analysed instances of alleged executions to be investigated as war crimes.

“Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its forces have committed many heinous war crimes,” said Belkis Wille, associate crisis and conflict director at HRW. 

“The summary execution - or murder - of surrendering and injured Ukrainian soldiers, gunned down in cold blood, expressly forbidden under international humanitarian law, is also included in that shameful legacy.”

HRW analysed drone footage posted on social media on 2 December, 27 December and 25 February. 

In the videos, Ukrainian soldiers appeared to have surrendered but were shot by Russian troops. HRW said they could not verify some of the incidents' locations.

Considering they were no longer part of combat, international humanitarian law says the men are not targets and so cannot be shot at. 

The Geneva Conventions specifically say that combatants who are out of combat for reasons such as surrender, injury, or capture must be treated humanely and are no longer lawful targets for attack. 

On 25 February, the footage shows at least seven Ukrainian soldiers removing their body armour. One of them also took off his helmet. They all faced down as five Russian soldiers aimed their guns at them. Six of the Ukrainian men did not move after they were shot. One attempted to escape before he was shot dead. This incident took place in Ivanivske village near the Donetsk region.

HRW was able to differentiate between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers by identifying