Russia uses medicine as a tool to pressure Ukrainian prisoners

Russia is accused of systematically depriving Ukrainian prisoners of war of proper medical care. According to human rights activists, treatment in places of detention can be used as a form of pressure, torture and dehumanization.

This was announced by Andriy Mikheyev, a leading legal expert of the Network for the Protection of National Interests of Ukraine “ANTS” and the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), during the presentation of the study “Violation of the Rights of Prisoners of War to Health Care and Medical Treatment: Consequences, Qualifications and Prospects”.

He emphasized that the study is the first to comprehensively analyze the medical dimension of Russian crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war.

According to the expert, this is not about isolated cases of cruelty, but about a systemic policy of not providing medical care, bullying and dehumanization of Ukrainian prisoners. “These are not just crimes of individual Russians, which they could deny. This is a crime by the Russian system of health care for prisoners of war, which should exist in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, but in fact does not exist and does not work,” Mikheyev said.

The expert recalled that the rights of prisoners of war are protected by international law, in particular by the Geneva Convention, which defines the state’s obligations regarding medical care.

“We recorded beatings and torture for demanding treatment, death due to lack of medical care, the use of psychotropic drugs, tooth extraction without anesthesia, and other cases of cruel treatment. All of this bears the hallmarks of war crimes,” Mikheyev stressed.

According to the study, after returning from captivity, 90% of those released had physical injuries and the consequences of torture, as well as numerous chronic and mental disorders, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and nervous system damage.

The key conclusions also include the need to strengthen international investigation, sanctions pressure, and cooperation with the ICC to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Released servicemen and government representatives emphasize that Russia’s crimes against prisoners are systemic and require an international response – from sanctions to criminal prosecution and the return of prisoners home.