Prosecutors identify Russian soldier who executed captured Ukrainian commander with shot to head

Ukrainian law enforcement has served a notice of suspicion on a Russian assault trooper after he killed a captured commander of a Ukrainian unit on the Pokrovsk front in October 2025.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Details: Since May 2025, Russian assault units have been engaged in active fighting on the Pokrovsk front, attempting to occupy the village of Shakhove.

On 10 October, a small infantry group that had infiltrated the outskirts of the settlement captured two Ukrainian servicemen, including a 34-year-old unit commander. After interrogating him, the Russian assault trooper led the man out to a forested area, where, on the orders of his commanding officer, he killed him with a shot to the back of the head from an automatic rifle. The Russians also shot and killed the other Ukrainian serviceman.

Law enforcement identified the Russian national as a 34-year-old man from Russia's Krasnoyarsk Krai, a rifleman in the 336th Separate Guards Marine Brigade (military unit No. 06017), who goes by the alias "Tai".

During combat operations in the area, Ukraine's defence forces captured the perpetrator. Under the procedural guidance of Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office, he has been notified of suspicion of cruel treatment of prisoners of war resulting in death (Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Efforts are ongoing to identify the other perpetrator of the crime.

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