Ukraine ombudsman says Russian troops killed 345 surrendered Ukrainian soldiers

August 12, 2026 at 05:00 AM2 min

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Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on Wednesday that Russian forces have killed at least 345 Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered since the full-scale invasion began. He told a Kyiv press conference that the killings were captured on video and constitute war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Lubinets also said 95 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia were subjected to systematic torture.

Killings of Surrendered Troops

Russian soldiers executed at least 345 Ukrainian servicemen who laid down their weapons, raised their hands, or lay on the ground to show they were no longer fighting, according to Dmytro Lubinets. Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights said at a press conference in Kyiv on Aug. 12 that the killings were documented on video. He said the deaths should be treated as execution of prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions.

Torture in Russian Prisons

Ukraine has recorded 695 forms of torture used against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, Lubinets said. He reported 860 cases of inadequate detention conditions in Russian prisons. According to his data, 95 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian custody were subjected to systematic torture, including beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, psychological pressure, dog intimidation and mock executions.

Verified Prisoner Deaths

Ukraine is aware of 375 Ukrainians who died after being verified as prisoners of war by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Lubinets said. He said Russia returned their bodies, and the dead included both military personnel and civilians. He described the cases as people who came home 'on a shield' after being tortured.