Evidence of Alleged War Crimes by Russian Forces in Ukraine
New evidence has emerged that appears to support allegations that Russian forces are executing surrendering Ukrainian troops in violation of international law. This information comes from intercepted radio communications and drone footage obtained by CNN, which Ukrainian officials say provide a chilling glimpse into the actions of Russian military personnel in the conflict zone.
Interception of Radio Communications
The intercepted radio transmissions, obtained by CNN from a Ukrainian intelligence official, contain explicit orders for the execution of Ukrainian soldiers who have surrendered. These communications appear to align with drone footage showing suspected executions in the Zaporizhzhia region of eastern Ukraine. The footage captures six soldiers lying face down on the ground, with at least two being shot at close range and another being marched away.
Ukrainian prosecutors have launched an investigation into these deaths, and they have shared a screenshot of the drone video on social media. A Ukrainian official familiar with the case confirmed that the same radio intercepts were being examined as part of the inquiry into the killings. While CNN has not independently verified the authenticity of the radio traffic or its direct connection to the drone footage, a forensic expert who analyzed the audio files stated that they did not appear to have been manipulated.
International Reactions and Legal Implications
Morris Tidball-Binz, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, has expressed concern over the radio transmissions and drone footage. He noted that these materials are consistent with other instances of Russian forces allegedly executing surrendering Ukrainian troops. Tidball-Binz described such incidents as “grave breaches” of international law and suggested that such actions would require authorization from the highest levels of the Russian military command.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations. However, Russian officials have previously denied that their troops have committed war crimes and have insisted that they treat prisoners of war in accordance with international law.
Impact on U.S. Policy and Diplomacy
The alleged executions of prisoners of war, along with other widespread accusations of war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine, could complicate efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring a swift conclusion to the war. Trump has pursued an erratic approach that often sees him aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin. His administration has also briefly interrupted a State Department initiative aimed at tracking alleged war crimes by Moscow.
A Western intelligence official told CNN that the audio intercept files appeared authentic, credible, and consistent with previously documented brutal executions. The official added that it was clear the soldier received an order to execute the Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered. Similar material from other cases is being examined, which strengthens the evidence of a directive from Russian commanding officers to kill Ukrainian soldiers who have surrendered or are in the process of surrendering.
Investigation and Criminal Charges
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has identified Russian soldiers in the “Storm unit” of the 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment as being involved in the November attack. The SBU has linked the same “Storm unit” to another suspected execution in the same area—the beheading of a captured Ukrainian soldier—and has charged in absentia Russian commanders from the unit who it claims were responsible.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office has opened 75 criminal investigations into the suspected executions of 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The number of alleged executions has been rising, with eight cases involving 57 soldiers in 2022, eight cases involving 11 soldiers in 2023, 39 cases with 149 soldiers in 2024, and 20 cases so far this year, with 51 soldiers.
Yurii Bielousov, head of the war crimes department at the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office, noted that the rise in executions is attributable to instructions given by top leaders of the Russian Federation, both political and military. He mentioned that while there is no written order yet, there have been several examples of oral orders.
Context and Motivations
Ukraine’s chief war crimes prosecutor, Yurii Bielousov, pointed out that Putin had said in March that Ukrainian soldiers captured in Russia’s Kursk region should be treated as terrorists. Bielousov remarked that everyone knows how Putin treats people he calls terrorists, adding that it is almost a synonym for us to execute.
Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of the secretariat at Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, suggested another possible explanation for the killings: the Russian military wanted to avoid the logistical issues of capturing and managing prisoners. He stated that from their perspective, it complicates military logistics, and the Russian command made a simple decision to shoot captured prisoners.
Detailed Analysis of the Radio Transmissions
The radio transmissions intercepted by Ukraine appear to capture a Russian commander giving orders to frontline troops. In the recordings, two Russians are referred to by their callsigns, “Arta” and “Beliy.” According to the transcript of the intercepted transmissions, the commander’s first order was given at 12:22 p.m., instructing troops to take the commander captive and kill everyone else.
Four minutes later, the commander repeats the order twice, emphasizing the need to take the senior and eliminate the others. The commander frequently demands updates from his combat unit, who struggle to reply. One soldier, referred to by the callsign “Arta,” mentions that they have not found a Ukrainian commander, only a “senior.”
The drone footage obtained by CNN covers from 12:27 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., according to the time codes on the video. There appears to be a clear connection between commands captured in the transmissions and what happens on the ground in the drone footage. At 12:28 p.m., the order is given on the radio a sixth time, and a soldier wearing a mask and a dark green uniform consistent with the Russian military can be seen emerging from the foliage, moving towards the captives.
