The Russian authorities systematically torture and ill-treat Ukrainian prisoners of war at all stages of their detention. Such conclusions are contained in reports Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published on October 1.
According to the report, 169 of the 174 interviewed Ukrainian prisoners of war who testified since March 2023 confirmed the facts of torture or ill-treatment while in Russian captivity. Their testimony was also confirmed by other sources.
The report emphasizes that Ukrainian prisoners of war were subjected to physical beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, strangulation, long stays in uncomfortable positions, excessive physical exertion, sleep deprivation, mock executions, threats of violence, and humiliation.
“Torture and other forms of ill-treatment were common during interrogations and at all stages of captivity, including during reception procedures, daily internment procedures, and as a result of appalling internment conditions. Whole groups of Ukrainian prisoners of war were routinely subjected to these abuses in various detention facilities in many regions on the occupied territory of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, demonstrating similar patterns of cruelty”, says the report.
The UN also draws attention to the fact that torture often had a systemic nature and was carried out with the coordination of various state institutions of Russia. In many cases, when outsiders visited the detention facilities, the torture was temporarily stopped, indicating that the authorities were able to control these practices.
The report also draws attention to public calls in Russia for the inhumane treatment and even execution of Ukrainian prisoners, particularly through state media.
Regarding Russian prisoners of war, 104 out of 205 respondents stated that they had suffered torture or ill-treatment during the initial stages of their detention in Ukraine, but after arriving at official places of internment, conditions improved significantly and met international standards.
Earlier, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that all 600 civilians and prisoners of war released from Russian captivity spoke of torture and ill-treatment.
