OSINT analysts identify Russian military unit responsible for shooting nine POWs near Bakhmut

The video analysis, which was shot between the settlements of Khromove and Ivanivske (Krasne), pointed to the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Kostroma Regiment (331 PDPR, military unit 71211), which is part of the 98th Airborne Division of the Western Military District.

"We will not publish the data for the further 'demobilization' of all those involved in war crimes — you will read it in the obituaries," the report read.

This unit has been involved in the war against Ukraine since 2014, in particular, near Ilovaisk. It also "took an active part" in the Russian attack on Kyiv in 2022, as well as near Izyum and Popasna in eastern Ukraine. The former commander of the regiment, Colonel Serhiy Sukharev, whose soldiers were involved in war crimes in Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts, has already been eliminated.

The current commander, Major General Yevgeniy Tonkikh, was born in 1975. He "recently received his new rank, and in January 2024 he gave 'awards' to his scouts."

On Feb. 25, the DeepState analytical portal reported that Russian troops shot and killed nine unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Bakhmut area. The victims were preliminarily identified as soldiers from the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade or attached units.

Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets addressed official letters on Feb. 25 to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the execution of Ukrainian POWs near Bakhmut.

An investigation into the execution of the unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Bakhmut area was initiated by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

On Feb. 8, DeepState reported another execution of six captive Ukrainian soldiers at the Museum position (formerly military unit Zenit) in Avdiivka, who were left there after the Ukrainian army retreated from the city. Four of them were injured and unable to leave the encirclement with other Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers.

The Prosecutor General's Office announced earlier on Feb. 20 the initiation of an investigation into the execution of Ukrainian POWs near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhya Oblast. DeepState reported that Russian occupiers killed three soldiers of the 3rd Special Purpose Brigade Spartan of the National Guard during the assault on a defense force position.

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin noted that Ukrainian law enforcement officers have initiated 18 criminal proceedings over the killing of 38 Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russians.

Russian military officials are attempting to shift responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including the execution of prisoners, onto commanders of middle and lower ranks, the Institute for the Study of War reported on Feb. 25.