Russia Operates Systematic Torture Network for Ukrainian Prisoners of War, Intelligence Reports

Russia has established a structured system of torture targeting Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), employing trained individuals to execute these acts.

This information was revealed by Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, during the forum “Genocidal Practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russo-Ukrainian War.”

According to United Nations experts, over 95% of Ukrainian service members freed from Russian captivity reported experiencing torture or other violations of international humanitarian law, including breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

Yusov noted that in most cases, the purpose of these actions was not to extract information but to break the prisoners' resistance, degrade their dignity, and strip them of their values.

“Russia has developed a comprehensive system of torture, overseen by designated individuals. Specialized training is provided for these so-called 'specialists, ' with documented methods of torture serving as a foundation for their education,” Yusov stated.

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Yusov emphasized the lack of effective monitoring by international bodies tasked with enforcing the Geneva Conventions and humanitarian law. He highlighted the challenges faced by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is reportedly barred from accessing detention facilities and participating in prisoner exchanges.

“Where blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions by the Russian Federation are evident, it is the responsibility of monitoring organizations—not the victim state, Ukraine—to address these issues. Unfortunately, this is often not the case,” Yusov said.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has conducted 58 prisoner exchanges, securing the release of nearly 4,000 individuals, including military personnel and abducted civilians. However, thousands remain in captivity, according to Yusov, necessitating continued efforts to ensure their release.

In addition to testimonies gathered by Ukrainian authorities, a recent UN monitoring mission report noted that among 60 interviewed Ukrainian POWs, many disclosed experiencing torture and, in some cases, sexual violence during their imprisonment.

The issue extends beyond systematic torture. In early October, Russian forces reportedly executed 16 Ukrainian soldiers who had surrendered in Donetsk Oblast. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine described this as one of the largest documented executions of Ukrainian POWs along the front line.

Ukrainian officials continue to advocate for more robust international involvement in addressing these violations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha recently stated that a foreign nation has offered to act as a patron state to assist in the protection of Ukrainian prisoners, though the country’s identity remains undisclosed.