France Arrests Suspect Accused of Torture at Donetsk’s Izolyatsiya Prison

Authorities in France have detained a man suspected of committing war crimes at the Izolyatsiya  prison in occupied Donetsk.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced the arrest on May 8. The suspect is a Ukrainian citizen accused of working for the security forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.

The investigation indicates that the man served as an assistant to the prison head between 2017 and 2019. During this period, he allegedly participated in the torture and mistreatment of detainees.

Kravchenko stated that "He took part in the torture of prisoners, treated them cruelly, exerted psychological pressure, forced them to confess, and humiliated people. At least nine victims have been identified so far."

The suspect left Ukraine for France in 2021 after legal proceedings against him were initiated and sent to court. Upon arrival in France, he reportedly attempted to obtain refugee status.

The arrest followed a collaborative effort between Ukrainian prosecutors and various human rights organizations.

French law enforcement opened their own criminal case after receiving information from Ukrainian officials and groups like Truth Hounds . Investigators from both countries worked together to interview victims. Ukraine also provided additional evidence to strengthen the case against the individual.

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Culture

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The man now faces charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to Kravchenko, "The investigation is currently being carried out under the leadership of an investigating judge of a specialized unit of the Paris Court."

In October 2025, Ukraine’s National Police identified and charged two members of the so-called "ministry of state security of the DPR" for the torture and sexual assault of a Ukrainian woman in occupied Donetsk.

According to investigators, the perpetrators abducted a mother of two from her home between 2021 and 2022 and held her for over a month at the notorious "Izolyatsia" prison.

During her captivity, the woman endured beatings, simulated suffocation, and threats against her children, which eventually forced her to sign a false confession of cooperating with Ukrainian law enforcement.

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