Kyiv, Ukraine – On Sunday, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman called on international organizations to take action following allegations that several Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed in Russia’s Kursk region. This location had seen a Ukrainian incursion in August.


Reports from DeepState, a Ukrainian battlefield analysis platform affiliated with the Defense Ministry, indicated that on October 10, Russian forces shot and killed nine Ukrainian drone operators and contractors after they had surrendered. Dmytro Lubinets, the ombudsman, shared his concerns through Telegram, stating that he had forwarded letters to both the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, labeling the incident as “another crime committed by the Russians.”


Earlier in the month, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office had reported that Russian soldiers had executed 16 captured Ukrainian soldiers in the partially occupied Donetsk region, raising further alarm. However, there was no prompt response from Russian authorities regarding these serious claims.


In related news, the Ukrainian air force announced on Sunday that it had successfully intercepted 31 out of 68 drones which had been launched towards Ukraine by Russian forces overnight, affecting regions such as Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Cherkasy. It was also noted that an additional 36 drones were likely lost due to electronic interference.


Furthermore, reports indicated that ballistic missiles had targeted the cities of Odesa and Poltava, while guided air missiles struck Chernihiv and Sumy. Fortunately, local authorities reported no casualties or structural damages resulting from these attacks.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Sunday, revealing that over the past week, Russia had deployed around 900 guided aerial bombs, over 40 missiles, and 400 drones against Ukraine. In response, Zelenskyy utilized the social platform X to urge Ukraine’s allies to supply adequate air defense systems and to consider decisions regarding their range capabilities. Kyiv remains in anticipation of feedback from its Western allies regarding their ongoing requests for long-range weapons to target positions within Russia.


On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry reported that 13 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across three Russian regions. Specifically, six drones were shot down in both the Belgorod and Kursk regions, while one was downed in the Bryansk area, all of which are adjacent to Ukraine.