Over 14,000 Ukrainian Civilians Held in Russia, Say Human Rights Advocates

More than 14,000 Ukrainian civilians are currently imprisoned in Russian detention facilities, according to estimates from the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR). On September 30, during a press conference in Frankfurt am Main, the organization called for greater attention to be paid to the situation of these detainees.

According to the ISHR, many of those who have returned to Ukraine suffer from serious injuries, including bone fractures and concussions. The survivors have also reported experiencing physical, sexual, and psychological abuse during their captivity.

Human rights advocates have highlighted the abduction and imprisonment of Ukrainian civilians as one of the most critical issues arising from Russia’s war against Ukraine.

During the event, several former detainees shared their experiences. Olena Yahupova, who was captured from the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, spoke about the conditions in Russian custody. “I endured hell in that prison. I was subjected to torture and sexual violence in the camp,” Yahupova said, as reported by KNA. She urged the international community to push for the release of Ukrainian civilians still held in Russia, emphasizing the need to save “thousands of people.”

Another former prisoner, Oleksandr Tarasov from Kherson, described his year-long detention, during which he was tortured with electric shocks. He called for personal sanctions to be imposed on those responsible for the imprisonment of Ukrainian civilians, including judges and law enforcement officials, and expressed a desire to see them face international justice.

The ISHR, in cooperation with the Ukrainian organization “Civilians in Captivity,” is currently working to secure the release of more than 60 individuals from Russian detention. Speaking at the event, board member Olena Tsyhipa, whose husband, a journalist, is imprisoned in Russia on charges of espionage, called on German politicians to help create mechanisms for the return of Ukrainian detainees.

According to Ukraine’s official figures, 55,000 individuals are currently registered as missing. The data provided by the ISHR aligns with statements made earlier by Ukrainian authorities. This summer, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed that Russia is illegally holding over 14,000 Ukrainian civilians. He also noted that the return of civilians is particularly challenging, as it is not part of the formal exchange process used for military prisoners.