Torturers

Russian soldier confesses to killing nine Ukrainian POWs

2026-01-23

Illustration: СБУ

In October 2024, a Russian soldier shot nine Ukrainian prisoners of war on the orders of his commander. A week later, he himself was captured. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported this.

What is known about the perpetrator?

The alleged perpetrator is Sergei Skobelev, a serviceman of the 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade of Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

According to the SBU, in October 2024 Skobelev was leading an assault group ordered to attack Ukrainian Defense Forces positions in Russia’s Kursk region. During the fighting, his unit captured nine Ukrainian servicemen.

The prisoners were ordered to undress and lie on the ground. They were told they would soon be transported for a prisoner exchange. Instead, Skobelev and another soldier opened fire and killed all nine captives with their rifles.

The group then collected the victims’ mobile phones and radios before continuing the assault.

A week later, Skobelev was captured by Ukrainian forces. Initially, he denied involvement in the killings but later confessed.

“We captured nine servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I contacted my immediate commander for instructions on what to do next. He ordered me to calm them down, to lower their vigilance, and to tell them that a vehicle would arrive soon to take them for an exchange, that everything would be fine. In reality, he intended for them to be shot. We gathered them in one place, ordered them to undress for security reasons, and searched them. Their weapons were placed nearby. When they had calmed down, the commander was shouting hysterically over the radio, insisting that they be shot. My fellow serviceman, known by the call sign ‘Ivanych,’ and I carried out the order. I stood on one side and shot four of them. Ivanych stood on the other side and shot five. After the shooting, we collected their mobile phones and radios and continued moving toward a fortified position at the edge of the forest belt" - the Russian prisoner said.

The SBU said the killings constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law governing the treatment of prisoners of war.

Ukrainian authorities are preparing a formal notice of suspicion against Skobelev. He faces life imprisonment under Ukrainian law. The SBU also noted that two other Russian servicemen — Dmitry Kurashov and Sergei Tuzhilov — are facing similar charges for allegedly executing Ukrainian POWs.