Russian forces shot four Ukrainian prisoners of war near the border village of Veterinarne in the Kharkiv region after the Easter ceasefire began.
The Prosecutor General’s Office reported this.
According to investigators, Russian troops entered Ukrainian positions on April 11, captured four soldiers from a separate mechanized brigade, and then deliberately shot them with automatic weapons.
Under the procedural supervision of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, a pre-trial investigation has been launched under Part 2 of Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code — cruel treatment of prisoners of war resulting in death.
Vitaliy Sarantsev, head of communications for the 14th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Suspilne the shooting took place after the Easter ceasefire was declared on April 11.
“Enemy assault actions began (on April 11 — ed.) after 2:00 p.m. and lasted several hours. The shooting itself took place after the declared ceasefire,” he said.
He added that radio intercepts indicated Russian forces planned to deny the shooting and accuse Ukrainian troops.
He reported that the area has remained tense in recent days. Russian forces are highly active, shelling with all available weapons and attempting assault operations.
“These are small assault groups, so far without heavy equipment support. But the enemy is very active there. There was a significant fire in this position — it was partially destroyed, which led to a loss of defensive capability,” he said.
According to DeepState analysts, the position where the prisoners were shot is located directly near the state border.
The Easter ceasefire was to take effect after 16:00 on April 11 and last until the end of April 12. However, between its announcement and 22:00 on the same day, Russian forces carried out 469 attacks, including 153 artillery strikes, and launched 22 assaults.
From the start of April 12 until 16:00, Russian forces launched another 55 assaults along most of the front line, including in the Yuzhno-Slobozhansk, Kupyansk, Lyman, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostyantynivka, Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivka, and Hulyaipole directions.
