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Polish Citizen Skeptical of War in Ukraine Reportedly Died Under Torture in Russian Custody
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A Polish man who traveled to Ukraine in 2023 to verify reports of Russia’s invasion was allegedly tortured to death in a Russian detention facility, Gazeta Wyborcza reported, citing the human rights group Memorial and multiple witness testimonies.
The individual, identified as Krzysztof Galos from Kraków, reportedly crossed into Ukraine in mid-April 2023. According to Gazeta Wyborcza, he was skeptical of news coverage about the war and decided to investigate the situation personally.
Surveillance footage later confirmed his vehicle was near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. At some point, he entered territory controlled by Russian forces and was detained at a military checkpoint.
According to Memorial, Galos was imprisoned in the Taganrog detention center in southern Russia, where he was subjected to torture. A former Ukrainian prisoner of war and another informant familiar with the facility confirmed to Gazeta Wyborcza that a Polish man named Krzysztof was held and died in the prison in June 2023.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it had not received any official notification from Russia regarding the arrest or death of a Polish citizen. Following Gazeta Wyborcza’s reports, the ministry sent a diplomatic note to Moscow requesting information but has not yet received a reply.
Galos’s family said they last heard from him via a brief text message: “Can’t talk. I’m fine. Love you.” After his scheduled two-week trip ended without further contact, they filed a missing person report. According to unofficial information obtained by the paper, Galos crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border on April 14, 2023.
His son, Paweł Galos, has since appealed to Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Justice and the prosecutor’s office, for clarification regarding his father’s status and the possible repatriation of his remains.
The family has also contacted Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the president, and the ambassadors of Ukraine and Russia. In his written inquiry, Paweł Galos asked: “If he is dead—when and under what circumstances did he die? If he was buried, then where?”
According to Gazeta Wyborcza, Galos was not connected to Ukraine and may have traveled there driven by political skepticism and personal depression. His fate remained unknown until independent Russian and Ukrainian sources identified him as the foreigner who died in Taganrog.
The Polish government continues to demand an explanation from Moscow. According to Gazeta Wyborcza, diplomatic and legal efforts to determine the full circumstances of Galos’s death are still underway.
Earlier, British citizen James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison by a Russian military court after being captured in the Kursk region in 2024. A former British Army soldier who joined Ukraine’s International Legion, Anderson was accused of terrorism and mercenary activity. His trial was held behind closed doors, and independent verification of the charges remains unavailable.
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