A military court in Kyiv has sentenced a Russian soldier to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of committing a war crime during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The ruling was announced by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on February 20.
The convicted individual, a member of the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion of the 40th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet, was involved in an incident in January 2025 in Russia’s Kursk region. According to Kravchenko, the soldier, along with fellow troops, ambushed two Ukrainian defenders who had surrendered by laying down their arms and raising their hands. Despite their clear intention to capitulate, the soldier opened fire, resulting in the deaths of both prisoners of war.
Kravchenko emphasized that the court found no military necessity for the use of lethal force in this scenario. The soldier was aware of the unlawful nature of his orders and had the option to refuse to comply. His actions were classified under the article concerning violations of the laws and customs of war, particularly those leading to the death of individuals protected under international humanitarian law.
Additionally, the court partially upheld a civil claim, ordering the convicted soldier to pay 50 million hryvnias in moral damages to the victims’ families. The soldier’s name has not been disclosed.
On February 18, it was reported by Suspilne.Krym that the prosecution was seeking a life sentence for the soldier, who hails from Crimea, for the execution of the two Ukrainian captives. He admitted his guilt during the court proceedings.
Under international humanitarian law, executing soldiers who surrender is classified as a war crime. Reports of killings, torture, and mistreatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war continue to emerge, raising serious concerns about the conduct of Russian forces in the conflict.
A Kyiv court has sentenced a Russian soldier to life imprisonment for executing two Ukrainian prisoners of war, highlighting ongoing violations of international humanitarian law in the conflict. The ruling underscores the serious implications of war crimes amid the ongoing hostilities.