Systemic Torture of Ukrainian POWs in Russian Jails Detailed

Testimonies from Ukrainian prisoners of war and illegally detained civilians reveal a pattern of systemic abuse within Russian detention centers, including physical, psychological, and sexual violence. A report by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Centre for Civil Liberties highlights accounts of torture carried out by both guards and medical personnel.

Prisoners describe a brutal ritual known as 'admission,' where new arrivals are beaten with various objects, including stun guns and batons. The stated aim of this practice is to break prisoners' physical and psychological resistance, extract military secrets, and ensure compliance. This initial violence is often followed by ongoing mistreatment.

Medical professionals, who are tasked with detainee care, are reported to have actively participated in or overseen torture. One particularly egregious case involves Ilya Sorokin, a medical officer at Penal Facility No. 10 (IK-10) in Mordovia, who is nicknamed 'Doctor Evil' by prisoners. Accounts describe him using tasers on prisoners, including those with injuries, to inflict pain and render them unconscious.

Another individual, referred to as 'Aunt in Pink,' a female medical professional at pre-trial detention center No. 2 (SIZO-2) in Staryi Oskol, is accused of routinely abusing prisoners. She allegedly ordered guards to use tasers for painful electric shocks, sometimes masked as medical procedures like 'electrophoresis.' Reports also detail instances where she directed guards to conduct abusive searches of prisoners' bodies, including their genitals.

According to the United Nations, approximately 95% of interviewed Ukrainian prisoners of war have reported experiencing torture or ill-treatment while in Russian captivity. More than half have also reported sexual violence, including rape, beatings while nude, and electrocution to sensitive body parts.

Beyond direct torture, many former detainees reported severe medical neglect. One individual held at Olenivka Corrective Colony No. 120 in occupied Donetsk described being ignored by medical staff when seeking treatment for injuries.

Khuan Alberto Levya Garsiya, a former Ukrainian POW released in May 2024 after 1,183 days in captivity, recounted experiencing nearly every imaginable form of torture, including daily beatings, electric shocks, and sexual abuse. He also stated that prisoners suffered from disease due to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Oleg Gushin of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed that Ukrainian prisoners have been killed and tortured. Kyiv has identified over 300 detention sites in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territory, with thousands of Ukrainians still held captive.