Law enforcers have launched an investigation into the death of Ukrainian Azov regiment defender Oleksandr Ishchenko as a result of multiple injuries sustained in captivity.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
"Under the procedural supervision of the Central District Prosecutor's Office of Dnipro, a pre-trial investigation was launched into the violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the statement said.
Currently, urgent investigative actions are underway to establish all the circumstances of the brutal crime.
"The information we have in the criminal proceedings clearly indicates that Russian commanders not only fail to prevent ill-treatment of prisoners, but also encourage such crimes and directly give the relevant criminal orders," said Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin.
In total, the murder of 64 Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian armed forces is currently under investigation. More than 2,200 prisoners of war have been recognised as victims of torture.
The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime.
Earlier, the deputy commander of the Azov regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, Svyatoslav Palamar, said that the death of Azov prisoner Oleksandr Ishchenko in a Russian detention centre was caused by multiple fractures and a chest injury.