The United Nations estimates that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are still being deprived of their liberty by Russia. This finding was presented at an informal UN Security Council meeting convened by Latvia and the United Kingdom on Monday to address the fate of detainees.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Claudia Fuentes Julio stated that many detainees are held incommunicado or without a basis compatible with international law. She also said that Russia is conducting “widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment” of Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners of war, including sexual violence.
Of interviewed Ukrainian prisoners of war reported experiencing torture or ill-treatment.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, UN human rights personnel have interviewed 910 released Ukrainian prisoners of war and 403 previously detained civilians. More than 95% of the interviewed Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85% of detained Ukrainian civilians reported experiencing torture or ill-treatment. Detainees also reported sexual attacks and inhumane conditions, including food deprivation and inadequate medical services.
The UN human rights office documented the execution of 129 Ukrainian prisoners of war at the beginning of their captivity, and 48 Ukrainian prisoners of war died in custody due to torture, denial of medical care, or other inhumane conditions. The United Nations has not been granted access to detention facilities in Russia.
“widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment”
Khuan Leyva Garsiya, who was held for 1,183 days, stated he was tortured and humiliated more than other prisoners because Russians suspected him of being a foreign mercenary or an American spy. The UN also interviewed 816 Russians and 57 third-country national prisoners of war from over 45 countries who were members of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine. About half of those reported torture or ill-treatment, primarily during initial captivity and interrogation by Ukrainians, according to UN monitors.
UN monitors reported that conditions in Ukrainian detention facilities generally comply with international humanitarian law and have improved since 2022. Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Maria Zabolotskaya claimed that the Russian armed forces are complying with international humanitarian law regarding the treatment of prisoners, but that Russian prisoners in Ukraine faced “torture and degradation and moral and physical abuse.”
Zabolotskaya described the Security Council meeting as part of “a disinformation campaign against Russia,” funded by NATO countries. Ukraine's Deputy UN Ambassador Volodymyr Pavlichenko expressed displeasure that Russia was not prepared to discuss the return of all POWs and civilian detainees, including kidnapped children.
