Beatings, electric shocks, imitation of executions, sexual violence: new data on the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war was made public at the UN

Today, March 26, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (UMHRM) released new data on the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity and on the sharp increase in the number of verified reports of the execution of captured Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The report on the human rights situation in Ukraine for December, January and February provides information about interviews with 60 recently released Ukrainian prisoners of war.

“Practically, during every interview with Ukrainian prisoners of war, it was said that Russian servicemen and officials torture Ukrainian prisoners of war in detention, using beatings, electric shocks, threats of execution, torture by long stay in an uncomfortable position and simulation of execution. Sexual violence was committed against more than half of the prisoners of war. Most of the POWs also mention the suffering of not being able to communicate with their families, as well as the lack of adequate food and medical care,” said Danielle Bell, head of the UMHRM.

The obtained data on the treatment of prisoners of war and the conditions of their detention in Russian captivity confirm the previously established practices of torture, ill-treatment, deaths in captivity, detention incommunicado, enforced disappearances and terrible conditions of detention of prisoners. Testimonies from Ukrainian servicemen who were recently captured and released indicate that these practices continue.

In addition, the UMHRM has documented credible reports of the execution of at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war in 12 separate cases between December 2023 and February 2024, significantly more than in any previous period. UMHRM carried out independent verification of three of the mentioned cases.

In addition, the UMHRM report contains information about interviews with 44 Russian prisoners of war who are in Ukrainian captivity, noting that despite the absence of statements about torture in official places of internment of Russian prisoners of war, some of them gave reliable testimonies about torture and ill-treatment in places their temporary stay after evacuation from the battlefield.

In addition to information on prisoners of war, the three-month report contains detailed information on violence against the civilian population in the territory of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation, including the killing of civilians, arbitrary detentions and restrictions on freedom of expression.

Earlier, the independent international commission of the United Nations to investigate violations in Ukraine published a report with new evidence of Russia’s violations of international law and the commission of war crimes.