The largest number of torture chambers were found in the Kharkiv region

In the Kharkiv region, the largest number of torture chambers were found among all regions of Ukraine – 28. Three of them are difficult to reach, and they have not yet been fully surveyed, because they are located on the border with the Russian Federation, where there is constant shelling. Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the investigative department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kharkiv region, told about it.

Currently, investigators are working with 227 victims who were held in various torture chambers.

Among the largest is the torture chamber in Kupyansk. It was set up in the premises of the detention center of the Kupyan police department, where a maximum of 45 people could be accommodated, but the occupiers kept more than 150 Ukrainians there. The hostages were ordinary people aged 16 to 65. Among them were schoolchildren, pensioners, teachers, directors of local enterprises and farmers. Some people were detained for more than 100 days.

According to the testimonies of the captives, the Russians beat them with hands and feet, rubber sticks and pipes, electric current and stun guns. They burned plastic on the body, bent the hands and joints in handcuffs, forced them to work, exerted psychological pressure.

As a result of torture, two prisoners died, four are considered missing, four more are still in captivity. Most suffered severe psychological injuries.

“The task facing the Ukrainian police is to bring to court not just one episode of torture, but to establish and identify all Russian soldiers and traitors-collaborators involved in the torture of Ukrainians in Kupyansk. We are working on establishing the identities of each executioner.

Due to the fact that they constantly hid their faces, it is difficult to investigate this case. But we have many testimonies of the victims, a list of Russian police personnel, their reports and detention logs, and we will announce a series of suspicions to them in the near future,” said Bolvinov.