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Russian occupying forces have committed another war crime on the Huliaipole direction in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets.
Incident details
The General Staff reports that on May 12, 2026, soldiers of Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment were ambushed by an infiltrating enemy group.
During the engagement, two Ukrainian servicemen were killed.
According to intelligence data, the commander of a Russian unit issued a direct order to commit a grave violation against the bodies of the fallen soldiers.
Intercepted communications reportedly recorded instructions to decapitate the deceased soldiers and place their heads in a visible location as a form of intimidation.
A subordinate officer allegedly confirmed readiness to carry out the order.
Ukrainian response
The Ukrainian military command condemned the actions as a blatant violation of the laws and customs of war, emphasizing that Russia continues to systematically commit atrocities against Ukrainian servicemen.
Officials stressed that such crimes are not isolated incidents and that individual perpetrators and commanders will be identified and held accountable.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that war crimes have no statute of limitations and will be prosecuted.
International reaction
Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said the incident requires an urgent international response.
He confirmed that official communications have been sent to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations, calling for documentation and investigation of the crime.
Lubinets also urged citizens to report any evidence of violations or executions of Ukrainian servicemen to authorities and designated hotlines.
