Since 2024, there has been a dramatic escalation in executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission documented 79 executions in 24 separate incidents between August 2024 and February 2025. Overall, 177 Ukrainian POWs were executed from February 2022 to December 2024, with 109 executions (80% of the total) occurring in 2024 alone. Executions occur on the battlefield: soldiers attempting to surrender are shot immediately, unarmed and wounded are killed on the spot. The UN recorded at least 3 public calls in 2024 from Russian officials demanding executions of Ukrainian POWs, plus social media posts from Russian military groups ordering 'no prisoners'. Amnesty International documented 109 executions in 2024 through verified videos and witness interviews. The February 3, 2025 UN report called the increase 'alarming' and emphasized these actions constitute grave violations of the Geneva Convention and war crimes. Russian officials' public incitement combined with broad amnesty laws creates an environment encouraging unlawful behavior.