Russia executeв two Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk

On May 23, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office reported that Russian troops executed two Ukrainian prisoners of war near Udachne, Donetsk Oblast, during a May 22 assault on Ukrainian positions. The soldiers were allegedly captured and then shot in a nearby forest. The fate of two other Ukrainian soldiers remains unknown.

The incident occurred in one of the most active combat zones and is being investigated as a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the execution of prisoners. Ukraine's military and law enforcement are working to identify those responsible.

This execution fits a broader pattern of war crimes by Russian forces. By late 2024, Ukrainian authorities had documented the execution of at least 177 captured soldiers. Visual and forensic evidence continues to reveal systematic violations of international humanitarian law by Russia.

The first part of large exchange with Russia completed. 390 Ukrainian POWs returned back home

Ukraine and Russia have completed the first stage of a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange agreement, resulting in the return of 390 individuals, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on May 23. The deal was brokered during a meeting in Türkiye and is expected to continue over the weekend.

According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters, 270 Ukrainian defenders—including soldiers from the Armed Forces, Navy, Airborne Forces, National Guard, Territorial Defence, and Border Guard—were freed, along with 120 civilians. The group includes 3 women and 387 men.

Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that it had also recovered 270 soldiers and 120 civilians. This marks one of the largest single prisoner exchanges since the full-scale invasion began.

Russian ballistich missile strike on Odesa port infrastructure killed two people and injured several others

Russian forces launched a ballistic missile attack on Odesa’s port infrastructure on May 23, killing two people and injuring eight others, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration.

The initial strike killed a port employee and left several others wounded. Four of the injured are in serious condition, two in moderate condition, and two sustained minor injuries.

Later, Kiper confirmed that a 71-year-old local resident died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the attack, raising the death toll to two.

Putin claims that Russia is preparing a security buffer zone along Ukrainian border

On May 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of a "security buffer zone" along the border with Ukraine in the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions. This follows ongoing Ukrainian military operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Ukraine condemned the move, calling it proof that Russia is not serious about peace. Ukrainian officials stated the buffer zone should be inside Russia, not Ukraine, and emphasized that their cross-border operations have helped prevent a similar zone from being established in Ukrainian territory. Putin’s statement comes as Russia continues to reject ceasefire proposals and push for maximalist demands.