In the last message Lyudmyla Dubnytska received from her husband, he told her he was likely about to be captured by Russian forces. Two days later, she recognised his body in a video on social media of a group of killed Ukrainian troops.
Her partner, Andriy Dubnytsky, is among hundreds of prisoners of war that Kyiv says Russia's army has executed since it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
The exact number is unknown, varying according to different Ukrainian and international sources, but Kyiv alleges the executions reveal a deliberate policy by Moscow.
Dubnytsky was 25 when he was killed in February 2024 as Ukrainian troops retreated from Avdiivka, an epicentre of fighting in eastern Ukraine, captured by Russia.
Wounded during an attempt to withdraw, the soldier from the 110th brigade stayed at his position with five comrades, four of whom were also injured. Despite the dire situation, they were hoping to be evacuated.
