United Nations: Civilian Detainees Subjected to Torture Since Russia’s Full-Scale Attack on Ukraine

Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian civilian detainees in occupied territory to torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, in a widespread and systematic manner.

Most of the 215 released civilian detainees interviewed by the UN Human Rights Office since June 2023 gave consistent and detailed accounts of their treatment in captivity. They recounted severe beatings and electric shocks, mock executions, prolonged stress positions, and threats of death and violence to them or their loved ones, and instances of sexual violence. Interviewees also described poor conditions of detention, including a lack of food and inadequate medical treatment.

The Russian Federation has applied Russian criminal law in occupied territory ignoring the obligation under international humanitarian law (IHL) to respect the laws in force in the occupied territory, unless absolutely prevented. The frequent disregard of legal and procedural safeguards has resulted in high numbers of arbitrary detentions and raised significant concerns about enforced disappearances.