In Russian Captivity, Almost 90% of Ukrainian Soldiers Were Tortured

Approximately 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war have experienced torture, rape, threats of sexual violence, or other forms of cruel treatment while in Russian captivity. This was announced by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin, during a meeting with Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, as reported by Ukrinform.

"On all liberated territories, we find evidence of these horrors. In the Kherson region alone, 11 torture chambers have been discovered. In the Kharkiv region, nearly 100 cases of torture are under investigation, involving more than 700 victims. We observe a similar pattern in other de-occupied areas," stated the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

He further reported that 156 Russian servicemen and representatives of the occupying authorities involved in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians have been identified.

Andriy Kostin emphasized that Russia has established a sophisticated system of torture and cruel treatment on the occupied territories, targeting both prisoners of war and civilian Ukrainians. "The aggressor uses torture as both a weapon of war and a method of eradicating Ukrainian identity under occupation," the Ukrainian official remarked.

The UN has also confirmed the instances of torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Danielle Bell, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, reported this. "Briefings on Ukraine are regularly held at the Human Rights Council and the Security Council. Our reports are widely used as our mandate involves monitoring and reporting," said Danielle Bell.

She also mentioned that these reports are based on detailed descriptions and extensive interviews with prisoners of war, as well as documentation of the forms of torture, cruel treatment, and conditions of captivity endured by Ukrainian soldiers.