ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE – In a landmark moment for international justice, Dmitriy Kurashov, a Russian soldier, has become the first member of Russia’s armed forces to stand trial in Ukraine for an alleged battlefield execution. The proceedings in Zaporizhzhia mark a critical step in Ukraine’s relentless pursuit of accountability for war crimes committed during the ongoing full-scale invasion, setting a precedent that could pave the way for numerous similar cases.
Kurashov, a 26-year-old from a Russian assault unit, stands accused of violating the laws and customs of war, specifically for the alleged intentional murder of an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war. The incident in question occurred on January 6, 2024, near the village of Pryiutne in the Zaporizhzhia region. Prosecutors allege that after a battle, Ukrainian serviceman Vitalii Hodniuk, realizing further resistance was futile, laid down his weapons and surrendered. It is claimed that Kurashov then ordered Hodniuk to kneel before firing at least three targeted shots, killing him on the spot.
What makes Kurashov’s case particularly significant is his physical presence in a Ukrainian courtroom. While Ukraine has previously tried and convicted Russian soldiers for war crimes, these proceedings have largely been conducted in absentia. Kurashov was captured by Ukrainian forces shortly after the alleged execution, along with several of his fellow soldiers who are now testifying against him.
The trial has revealed chilling details and conflicting accounts. Kurashov, who uses the call sign “Stalker,” has offered shifting narratives. He initially denied the charges, then pleaded guilty in court, only to later retract that admission, claiming he confessed under duress to expedite the trial and facilitate a prisoner exchange. He now asserts that another Russian soldier, whom he identifies as “Sedoy,” was responsible for Hodniuk’s death.
However, the prosecution’s case is bolstered by the testimonies of Kurashov’s own comrades, who were also captured. Several Russian soldiers, testifying from Ukrainian custody, have provided damning accounts. One witness reportedly stated that he saw Kurashov shouting at a Ukrainian soldier to surrender with hands raised, and after the Ukrainian soldier complied and knelt, “Stalker shot him, because I saw him alone in my field of vision. I didn’t see anyone else. No one at all.” Another fellow soldier corroborated seeing Kurashov as the sole individual near the fallen Ukrainian.
Furthermore, testimony from Kurashov’s unit commander revealed that soldiers were allegedly instructed during training “to not take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner,” implying an order to kill. Ukrainian prosecutors believe this points to a broader, deliberate policy by the Russian military to execute POWs, rather than isolated acts. Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General has recorded over 200 similar cases of alleged executions of Ukrainian defenders on the battlefield.
Kurashov himself was a former convict, recruited from prison as part of the “Storm-V” detachment, a unit composed largely of prisoners offered freedom in exchange for fighting in Ukraine. He claims he joined to clear his criminal record and was not aware he would be assigned to an assault unit.
The trial of Dmitriy Kurashov is more than just a single legal proceeding; it is a powerful symbol of Ukraine’s determination to ensure accountability for the atrocities of war. With the world’s attention fixed on the proceedings, the verdict, and the precedent it sets, will undoubtedly reverberate far beyond the courtroom in Zaporizhzhia.