A former Ukrainian prisoner of war has described systematic torture during 1,183 days in Russian captivity, including daily beatings, electric shocks, and sexual abuse. Khuan Alberto Levya Garsiya, a Ukrainian military member, told reporters at a United Nations meeting that he and his comrades endured every imaginable form of abuse intended to break them mentally.
The United Nations estimates that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians remain detained by Russia, many held incommunicado and without legal grounds. Over 95% of interviewed Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85% of civilian detainees reported being tortured or ill-treated, according to U.N. officials. The Geneva-based human rights office documented 129 executions of Ukrainian POWs shortly after capture and 48 deaths in custody due to torture or denial of medical care.
Conditions in Detention Facilities
Garsiya described overcrowded barracks with inadequate conditions, where prisoners suffered from dysentery, starvation, and extreme temperatures. He reported that two of his friends were beaten to death in detention centers in the Donetsk region. The U.N. confirmed that sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was widespread among detainees. Many reported electrocution to sensitive areas, forced nudity, and other forms of degrading treatment.
Russian Response and International Reactions
Russia dismissed the allegations as a "disinformation campaign" during an informal U.N. Security Council meeting. Deputy U.N. Representative Maria Zabolotskaya alleged that Russian prisoners in Ukraine faced similar abuse, though no independent verification of these claims has been provided. The U.N. has not been granted access to detention facilities in Russia to verify conditions.
Scope of Detentions and Ongoing Concerns
The U.N. estimates that 16,000 civilians remain detained, though the breakdown by age or gender is not available. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the U.N. has interviewed 910 released POWs and 403 civilian detainees, with most reporting repeated torture. The conflict has seen escalating attacks from both sides, further complicating efforts to address detainee welfare.
Testimonies from Survivors
Crimean Tatar activist Leniie Umerova, released in a 2024 prisoner exchange, described her detention while attempting to visit her ill father in Crimea. She alleged she was subjected to psychological and physical abuse. Garsiya, who survived his ordeal, stated that guards targeted him due to his Latino name, accusing him of being a mercenary and spy.
The U.N. continues to call for immediate access to detention facilities and an end to reported abuses, emphasizing that such actions violate international law.