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Russia Distributes "Effective Torture" Guides for Ukrainian POWs

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Liubava Petriv
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Russia Distributes "Effective Torture" Guides for Ukrainian POWs
A woman whose son went missing in action comes to every POW exchange and simply meets unfamiliar Ukrainian soldiers released from Russian captivity, considering it her mission on May 6, 2025 in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Source: Getty Images)

During a May 28 briefing at the Ukraine Media Center, Nestor Barchuk, a representative of the International Cooperation Division of the 1st Corps of Ukraine’s National Guard “Azov,” accused Russia of systematically torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

He also claimed that Russian authorities are circulating explicit instructions detailing how such abuses should be carried out.

“Torture and mistreatment are a deliberate state policy of Russia,” Barchuk stated. “We know that there are entire instruction manuals circulated between places where Ukrainian POWs are held. These manuals specifically outline which forms of torture are considered ‘more effective’ and should be applied to Ukrainian servicemen.”

Barchuk also cited findings from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which indicate that more than 95% of Ukrainian POWs experience torture while in Russian captivity.

Previously, it was reported that the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine recorded more than 150 cases of Ukrainian soldiers being executed on the battlefield since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

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