Russian Soldier Kills Civilian During Evacuation in Donetsk Third Case This Year

A Russian soldier shot and killed a civilian attempting to evacuate from the village of Udachne in the Donetsk region, marking the third documented case this year of Russian forces killing local civilians in the area. The incident was captured on video showing the man walking along the roadside with a suitcase of personal belongings before being targeted by a soldier hiding in a ruined building. Ukrainian authorities have initiated a pre-trial investigation into this war crime under Article 438.2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, with efforts underway to identify the responsible serviceman. This case adds to a broader pattern of violence and human rights violations by Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories, including other charges against Russian personnel for violence against prisoners of war and civilians. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian prosecutors report over 170,000 war crimes by Russian troops, resulting in more than 15,000 civilian deaths, including children. The ongoing investigations underscore the severity and persistence of war crimes amid the conflict in Ukraine.