The Security Service of Ukraine has collected extensive evidence and ‘broken’ a serviceman of russian armed forces who, together with his accomplice, shot nine Ukrainian prisoners during the fighting in Kursk region.

The investigation established that the war crime was committed by Sergei Skobelev, a serviceman of the 155th separate brigade of the russian pacific fleet.

In October 2024, as the head of a russian assault group, he received an order to attack the positions of Ukraine’s Defence Forces in Kursk region. Skobelev’s detachment took a group of our soldiers by surprise and, following the battle, took nine of them prisoner.

The captives were forced to undress and lie down on the ground. To calm them down and prevent resistance, they were promised that they would be sent for exchange.

However, acting on his commander’s orders, Skobelev and his accomplice shot all the captured Ukrainian PoWs with their service weapons. After that, the ruscists collected mobile phones and radios of the deceased and continued their combat operations.

A week later, Skobelev was captured by the Ukrainian Defence Forces. At first, he did not confess to the crime, but the Security Service collected the necessary evidence, which forced the russian to admit his guilt.

The crime committed is a serious violation of the Geneva Convention and other international documents that define the rules of conduct in armed conflicts. A notice of suspicion is being prepared for the perpetrator. He will face appropriate severe punishment.