Ukraine has launched an investigation into shocking images which appear to show a Ukrainian prisoner who was allegedly beheaded by Russian troops.
The grotesque photograph seemingly shows the severed head of an unnamed man inside a wooden box.
In another medieval-style image a person wearing a stripy navy blue top, which is similar to Russia’s navy uniform, can be seen holding up in the head for the camera.
Whilst the photographs remain unconfirmed, Artur Dobroserdov – Ukrainian Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstance – made clear he believed the images were genuine which, if true, would amount to a serious war crime.
The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office has been informed, and police are conducting an investigation, he said.
Mr Dobroserdov said: ‘Photographic materials from hostile information resources are being distributed online, showing an image of a severed head of a Ukrainian serviceman.
‘We would like to inform you that thanks to the measures taken by the [secretariat’s] office, it was possible to establish the identity of the deceased.’
The name was not made public and the circumstances of the alleged beheading are not known.
Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training exercise in Donetsk
Artillery fire troops fire towards Russia in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine
‘The National Police of Ukraine has already been informed to establish contact with the military man’s relatives and conduct the necessary investigative action to clarify the circumstances of the incident, establish the location of the body and other important details,’ said Dobroserdov.
‘The Prosecutor General’s Office was also informed about another gross violation of international humanitarian law by the aggressor country [Russia].’
Ukrainians are urged to refrain from spreading unverified information and trust only official sources of information.
‘In order to ensure the inevitability of the responsibility of the aggressor country [Russia], each war crime is carefully documented, and relevant information is transmitted to international legal institutions.’
The shocking images comes as the UK is warned that the Ukrainian front could collapse in the next six months.
Senior figures in Ukraine’s leadership have raised the alarm as they urged Britain to increase military support or face a ‘nightmarish scenario’.
The country has ‘as little as six months’ of fighting power left, sources with knowledge of intelligence briefings coming out of Ukraine said.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative party leader who met senior Ukrainian officials on a visit to the front line and Kyiv last week, said: ‘The stark truth is, we haven’t spent enough.’
A Ukrainian soldier on patrol last month on the Kharkiv frontline
Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of a rocket strike on a residential building in Poltava, Ukraine on February 1, 2025
Former Conservative security minister Tom Tugendhat claims Putin’s (pictured) ‘designs don’t stop at Ukraine’
Last month the UK Prime Minister travelled to Ukraine and met President Zelensky where they signed a ‘landmark’ 100-year partnership
He said: ‘The pessimistic prediction [by a key Ukrainian official] is based on his country’s dwindling stocks of munitions, particularly shells for the 155mm field gun, which can hit targets 15 miles away. Ukraine simply cannot compete. For every round that they fire, Russia fires at least four back.’
Last week Foreign Secretary David Lammy was given the shock warning. Insiders also said the Prime Minister will likely have had similar briefings from his National Security Adviser.
Defence sources have also expressed concerns that promised equipment and resources have been hit with delays and delivery problems.
And Ukrainian MP Oleksii Honcharenko also said on his Telegram channel of government discussions: ‘If nothing changes, the front line may begin to collapse and there will be problems.’
Last month the UK Prime Minister travelled to Ukraine and met President Zelensky. They signed a ‘landmark’ 100-year partnership. As a ‘statement of our intent for the long term in relation to our commitment to Ukraine’.
During the visit Sir Keir said: ‘We’re now a long way into this conflict; we mustn’t let up. It’s very important we ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.’
Former Conservative security minister Tom Tugendhat said: ‘Russia’s war against us has seen sabotage, murders and fraud. We know Putin’s designs don’t stop at Ukraine, but failure there would encourage his violent ambitions and put us all at greater risk.’
Conservative MP and former Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns said: ‘Ukraine is consistently underestimated, yet they’ve survived yet another winter under-resourced and under-supported. Europe seems to be forgetting Ukraine is its frontline. Its indomitable spirit is not enough – we must give them more to defeat this terrorist imperialist, and now.’
