Ukrainian POWs Are Subjected to Torture in Russian Captivity, Authorities Identify Over 2200 Victims of Torture

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has identified more than 2200 victims who were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment in Russian captivity. One of them is Roman Horilyk, who was recently exchanged after staying in Russian captivity for two years.

The Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin reported about the investigation of crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian prisoners of war on the national telethon.

The videos circulating on the internet of abuse of Ukrainian prisoners are only part of the criminal strategy of Russia. Everyone who was in Russian captivity was subjected to brutal treatment or torture.

Ukrainian prisoners of war reported getting subjected to beating for speaking the Ukrainian language. Some prisoners reported witnessing the murders of other prisoners.

On May 31, Ukraine managed to return 75 soldiers and civilians from Russian captivity as part of a recent exchange, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on social media.

One of the exchanged servicemen was Roman Horilyk, a senior checkpoint supervisor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Russians captured him and 168 national guardsmen in March 2022 and brought him to Russia through Belarus. 89 of them are still held captive, and the Russian side uses them to exchange them for Russian military personnel captured in battle.

The condition of Roman and fellow Ukrainian prisoners of war is reminiscent of the darkest chapters in human history, similar to the atrocities witnessed in Nazi concentration camps.

Throughout their entire stay in Russian captivity, neither Roman nor the other 74 exchanged Ukrainian prisoners of war received visits from International Committee of the Red Cross observers. This is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention and a calculated policy of the Russian government. By preventing international oversight, Russia aims to conceal its mistreatment of prisoners of war.

More than 2200 Ukrainians have been recognized to be kept in inhumane conditions. More than 500 of them testified that they were subjected to physical violence during hostile interrogations, including electric shock. It is important to note that these are only the official numbers and the real scale of torture is likely much higher.

It’s known that Russia has created a whole system for keeping Ukrainian prisoners, with at least 25 such facilities in 15 regions of Russia.

Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, more than 450 criminal proceedings have been registered in Ukraine on the facts of cruel treatment of prisoners of war. 12 suspects have already been established.

Investigators are also conducting 27 criminal proceedings on the facts of the execution of 61 Ukrainian prisoners of war. They reported the suspicion to four Russian soldiers, and one was sentenced.

Just a couple of days ago, a new video of Russian soldiers humiliating Ukrainian prisoners of war started circulating on the Internet. It revealed beatings, mockery, threats, and mock executions.

Russia’s inhumane treatment of Ukrainians shows Russia’s genocidal agenda against the Ukrainian people. Ukraine constantly appeals publicly to resolve the issue of prisoners of war and offers to carry out an exchange according to the “all for all” formula.

Bringing all prisoners of war and civilian hostages from the Russian captivity is one of Ukraine’s top priorities.