UN: Prisoners of war from both Ukraine and Russia exposed to torture in captivity

The findings appear in a rapport from the Human Rights Office which was published on Tuesday.

However, Ukrainian prisoners of war report poor treatment throughout their time in captivity, while Russian prisoners of war say they were safe from ill-treatment as soon as they arrived in a prison camp, says Danielle Bell, head of the UN mission in Ukraine.

The UN office has interviewed several hundred prisoners from both sides of the conflict for the report.

– Systematic torture

The Ukrainian prisoners of war were subjected to “widespread and systematic torture”, both when they were captured and in various prison camps and prisons in the occupied territories of Ukraine and Russia, according to the UN report.

They claim, among other things, to have been subjected to fake executions, attacked by dogs and subjected to sexual violence, as well as receiving too little food and health care. At least ten Ukrainians died as a result of these conditions, according to the UN.

Despite repeated requests, Russia does not allow external access to Ukrainian prisoners of war, and the UN was the first to speak with them after their release.

Also applies to Russian prisoners of war

However, the UN had unrestricted access to the Russian prisoners of war held in Ukraine.

They claimed to have been beaten and tortured when they were captured or when they were first transported away, but said they were otherwise treated well in the prison camps in Ukraine and that the facilities met international standards, Bell says.

She emphasizes, however, that any abuse is condemned and that those who are guilty of it will be held accountable.