Russian troops executed two Ukrainian POWs near Dobropillia, prosecutors say
Russian troops captured and then shot dead two Ukrainian National Guard soldiers near Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast earlier this month, Ukrainian prosecutors said.
According to the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, the two soldiers were carrying out a combat mission at a firing position in a forest belt on Sept. 2 when they were captured by Russian forces.
Investigators say the Russian troops later shot both prisoners with automatic weapons.
Ukrainian authorities have opened a war crimes investigation and are working to identify the Russian servicemen involved.
The case is the latest in a series of reported executions of Ukrainian troops after capture. Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said in August that Russian forces had executed at least 345 Ukrainian servicemen who had clearly indicated their willingness to surrender.