Ukraine accuses Russia of executing prisoners and discusses mobilization changes

Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has accused Russian forces of executing at least 345 Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered since the start of the full-scale invasion. According to Lubinets, Russian troops reportedly disarmed prisoners, removed body armor, and in some instances forced them to strip before killing them with close-range gunfire. The ombudsman also alleged that Russia is concealing the actual conditions of prisoner detention, noting that the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been granted access to Ukrainian prisoner locations since 2022.

In a separate development regarding military readiness, Serhiy Gniezdilov of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade suggested that Ukraine may need to lower the conscription age and begin mobilizing women to address manpower shortages. Gniezdilov proposed lowering the conscription age from 25 to 21 and noted that women without children or specific medical roles could serve in various capacities, including administrative positions. He also highlighted concerns regarding desertion rates within the military.