Escaped Russian POW Reportedly Shoots 5 Ukrainian Troops Dead Near Kharkiv

Five soldiers serving in Ukraine’s 72nd Mechanized Brigade were shot dead in a residential house near Kharkiv on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and investigators are checking whether the attacker was a Russian soldier who escaped from captivity.Ukrainska Pravda, citing the investigation, said a man opened fire on the soldiers while they were inside the house. All five died of their wounds.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.On Wednesday, the Kharkiv District Prosecutor’s Office opened a pre-trial murder investigation, with law enforcement working to establish the attacker’s identity, his whereabouts and all circumstances of the crime.Investigators are examining several theories, including whether the suspect was linked to a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group.BBC Ukraine, citing its source “among the military command in the Kharkiv region,” said the murder was committed by a Russian soldier who escaped from captivity in the Kharkiv region.The 72nd Brigade, named after the Black Zaporozhians, confirmed that the victims were its personnel and called the incident a “tragic event.”It expressed condolences to the families, urged the media and public not to spread unverified information, and said it was withholding further details for security reasons. The brigade also raised the possibility of Russian involvement.Other Ukrainian outlets reported additional details. Public broadcaster Suspilne, citing its sources in law enforcement, said the attacker was a man in civilian clothes carrying an automatic weapon. He allegedly killed one soldier outside the house, then continued shooting inside. Other Topics of Interest Kyiv Mayor Faces Questioning as Russian Attack Triggers Fresh Water Cuts As Russia unleashed another overnight ballistic missile attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, water supplies to Kyivans were cut off once again as an energy truce remains elusive. The shooting reportedly lasted about two hours, after which the suspect fled. But Suspline also mentioned a version where the shooter was a Russian man who escaped Ukrainian captivity.Not the first attack on Ukrainian soldiersThe shooting follows a series of documented killings of Ukrainian service members by Russian forces. Those cases involve soldiers captured at the front, and investigators have not linked them to the Kharkiv district incident.On April 12, Russian troops executed four captured Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Veterynarne in the Kharkiv region during the Orthodox Easter ceasefire. The incident came about a day after Ukraine and Russia each released 175 prisoners of war.In July, Russian troops reportedly executed a Ukrainian prisoner of war in the Donetsk region right after interrogation. A month later, a captured Ukrainian soldier was shot near Myrne in the Donetsk region’s Volnovakha district.In September, two captured Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Donetsk region near Dobropillia.Russia executed at least 337 captured Ukrainian soldiers as of late 2025, according to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman.The investigation into the Kharkiv district shooting is ongoing. Anastasiia Bzova is journalist covering politics, culture and current affairs. She focuses on delivering accurate, accessible reporting that helps readers understand the issues shaping their opinions.