Shooting of civilians
On 20 October 2025, in the village of Zvanivka, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region Russian military five civilians were shot dead, including a married couple and their two sons.
As reported by Office of the Prosecutor General, The family was hiding from shelling in the basement of a private house when the Russian military entered.
«They demanded information about the positions of the Ukrainian military. When they did not receive any answers, one of the occupants returned and opened fire on civilians,» the OGP noted.
Details of the tragedy
Father and eldest son died on the spot.
The youngest son with two neighbours the occupiers shot in another house nearby.
All five died on the spot.
Local residents reported that the Russian military left the village shortly after the incident.
Investigation
Prosecutors have started pre-trial investigation for ч. 2 Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - violation of the laws and customs of war, which led to the death of people.
«This crime is yet another evidence of a targeted policy of terror against the civilian population of Ukraine,» the prosecutor's office said.
Context.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the following have been recorded Thousands of war crimes committed by the Russian military against the civilian population.
Ukrainian law enforcement officers document each case in order to submit evidence to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
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