Russian detention centers revealing cruel treatment of Ukrainian prisoners, leading to numerous deaths during custody
Over 200 Ukrainian POWs Die in Russian Captivity Amid Allegations of Torture and Medical Neglect
Ukraine (AP) - In a heart-wrenching tale of survival, family, and loss, the story of Ukrainian soldier Serhii Hryhoriev shines a spotlight on the plight of the more than 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) who have perished in Russian custody since the full-scale invasion three years ago.
Hryhoriev, a 59-year-old former office worker turned soldier, became a family pillar, reassuring his wife and two daughters with the motto "Everything will be all right." Even after his capture in 2022, his loved ones clung to this belief, trusting in international law that requires Russia to protect POWs.
However, Hryhoriev returned home in a body bag, with a Russian death certificate stating he died of a stroke. But a Ukrainian autopsy and testimonies from other POWs tell a different story—one of violence, neglect, and cover-ups at the hands of the Russian army.
The deaths of these soldiers are not isolated incidents, according to human rights officials, the United Nations, the Ukrainian government, and a Ukrainian medical examiner who has conducted autopsies on dozens of POWs. These fatalities add to evidence of Russia's systematic brutality towards captive Ukrainian soldiers, suggesting a systematic effort to hide alleged torture, starvation, and inadequate medical care across numerous Russian prisons and detention centers.
Russian authorities did not respond to requests for comment. Previously, they have accused Ukraine of mistreating Russian POWs—allegations partially backed up by the United Nations, although they acknowledge Ukrainian violations are less common and severe compared to those of Russia.
Reflecting on his experience, Hryhoriev's fellow POW Oleksii Honcharov, who was repatriated to Ukraine in February 2023, described the constant beatings and severe punishment at the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky Correctional Colony in southwestern Russia. Hryhoriev, whom he saw weakened by the inhumane treatment, ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died in a damp, cold, dark cell.
The lack of adequate medical care is a recurring theme in testimonies from former POWs, with many reporting traumatic injuries and illnesses that were left untreated. A 2024 United Nations report found that 95% of released Ukrainian POWs had suffered "systematic" torture, with prisoners describing incidents such as beatings, electric shocks, suffocation, sexual violence, prolonged stress positions, mock executions, and sleep deprivation.
The death toll among Ukrainian POWs, already high, is expected to rise as more bodies are repatriated and identified. Forensic experts face difficulties in determining causes of death when internal organs are missing or when signs of abuse have been hidden or removed. Some believe that the mutilation of bodies indicates an effort to conceal the true causes of death.
As part of a ceasefire agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the prompt exchange of POWs and the repatriation of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including children forcibly deported to Russia. A significant prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine took place over the weekend.
Reporters from the Associated Press spoke with the families of 21 Ukrainian POWs who died in captivity. Autopsies conducted in Ukraine revealed various causes of death, with some POWs succumbing to heart failure, tuberculosis or pneumonia, and others perishing from infections, asphyxia, or head wounds. Autopsies also revealed signs of blunt trauma, electrocution, and other physical abuse that suggest these POWs faced torture prior to their deaths.
The tragic tale of Hryhoriev ends with his burial in his hometown, where his family created a lasting tribute to their lost loved one by tattooing the motto he lived by on their wrists. Though their "angel in the sky" is gone, Hryhoriev's loved ones carry on with the hope that "everything will be all right."
- The tragic circumstances of Serhii Hryhoriev, a Ukrainian soldier who perished in Russian custody, echo the plight of over 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) found dead under Russian captivity, sparking concerns about medical neglect and cover-ups in the Russian army.
- As the Ukrainian government continues to investigate the deaths of these POWs, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the issue of health care for captives is a significant concern, amplified by allegations of systematic torture and inhumane treatment.
- The ongoing political tensions between Ukraine and Russia can be seen extending beyond war-and-conflicts and permeating into general news and crime-and-justice sectors, as families seek accountability for the brutal treatment and death of their loved ones in Russian custody.
- The saga of the deceased Ukrainian POWs adds a dark chapter to the broader narrative of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, shedding light on the role of politics in the mistreatment, torture, and neglect of POWs, causing heartache and anger among families and the international community alike.
