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Radio transmissions intercepted from Ukraine appear to record a Russian commander, whose name and rank have not been identified, speaking to troops on the front lines. In the recordings, two Russians are referred to by their nicknames: "Arta" and "Beli."
The order was clear: Capture the commander and kill the rest. Ukrainian officials, according to CNN, discover a series of radio communications from senior Russian military personnel who, in violation of international law, give orders to execute Ukrainian soldiers who surrender.
Intercepted radio communications from Ukraine, obtained by CNN from a Ukrainian intelligence official, appear to coincide in time with drone footage showing an alleged execution by Russian soldiers in Ukraine's eastern Zaporizhia region last November.
The footage shows 6 soldiers lying face down on the ground, with at least two of them being shot at close range and another fleeing the scene.
These executions are under investigation by Ukrainian prosecutors, who released a drone video footage on social media after the incident.
A Ukrainian official familiar with the investigation said that the wiretaps obtained by CNN are being reviewed as part of the investigation into the murders.
CNN was unable to independently verify the specific conversations or confirm that the communications were directly linked to the drone footage, but an expert who analyzed the audio files said they did not appear to have been manipulated.
A United Nations investigator and a Western intelligence official told CNN that the radio conversations and drone footage had elements similar to other cases of Russian forces allegedly executing surrendered Ukrainian troops.
New investigation from @npwcnn :
— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) May 21, 2025
Radio communications intercepted by Ukraine and obtained exclusively by CNN appear to capture Russian orders to execute surrender of Ukrainian troops - in violation of international law. https://t.co/bvr5wcHxr1
Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN special rapporteur on summary or arbitrary executions, said radio broadcasts and drone footage show the killing of surrendered soldiers by Russian forces, as reported by the UN.
Tidball-Binz, who has investigated similar suspicious executions, called such incidents "serious violations" of international law, adding that he believes such behavior could only be approved by the highest authorities in Russia.
"They would not occur in such numbers and frequency without orders - or at least without the consent - of the highest military commanders, which in Russia means the Presidency," he said.
The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to CNN's request for comment on the allegations.
Russian officials have previously denied that Russian troops have committed war crimes and have insisted that Russia treat prisoners of war in accordance with international law.
The intercepted conversation reveals orders to kill Ukrainians who surrender.
"Take the commander prisoner and kill everyone else"
Radio transmissions intercepted from Ukraine appear to record a Russian commander, whose name and rank were not identified by CNN, speaking to troops on the front lines. In the recordings, two Russians are referred to by their nicknames: "Arta" and "Beli."
The Ukrainian intelligence official shared a copy of the radio transmissions, which noted that they were intercepted at 12:05 p.m. local time, when the Ukrainian position was attacked, and continued until 12:31 p.m., when the sighting of a Ukrainian drone forced the Russian commander to order a withdrawal.
CNN was unable to independently verify the time the transmissions were intercepted.
The Russian commander is heard ordering the killings on six separate occasions. According to the transcript of the intercepted transmissions, the commander's first order was given at 12:22 p.m.
"Ask who the commander is." Who is the commander? "Take the commander prisoner and kill everyone else," he is heard saying.
Four minutes later, he repeats the order twice.
"You do it." "Take the commander prisoner, kill everyone else."
"That's all." "Take him, eliminate the others!"
The commander frequently requests updates from his combat unit, which is having difficulty responding. "Dog, respond, are they surrendering or not?"
The soldier referred to by the nickname "Arta", who appears to be the main interlocutor, says they have not found a Ukrainian commander, only a "superior".
At 12:28 p.m., the order is given over the radio for the sixth time, and a soldier wearing a mask and dark green uniform, worn by the Russian army, is seen emerging from the leafy trees, moving towards the prisoners.
"Get out!" Take the old man, eliminate the others," the commander is heard saying.
A Ukrainian soldier seen in the video points at the Russians. A moment later, the masked soldier shoots him in the head. The voice of the Russian commander recorded in the broadcasts then asks if the assassination was complete.
"Did you eliminate them?" Arta! Arta! "I am Beli."
"We killed all the others, the damned." /Adapted from Pamphlet/
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