'The Machinery of Torture': 438 Ukrainians Die in Russian Captivity

Around 90% of Ukrainian detainees whose cases are heard in Russian courts are prosecuted on terrorism-related charges rather than being treated as prisoners of war (POWs), according to Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia.In an interview with Ukrinform, Katzarova said Russian authorities had designated the Azov Battalion as a terrorist organization, resulting in its captured fighters being prosecuted as terrorists despite their status as POWs.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“This applies to most Ukrainian detainees in Russia who are brought before courts, including military courts. Perhaps 90 percent of them are prosecuted on terrorism-related charges rather than for their participation in hostilities,” she said.Under the Geneva Conventions, POWs are protected by international humanitarian law and may be held accountable for their participation in hostilities as military personnel. However, they cannot be charged with terrorism simply for taking part in the war, Katzarova noted.She also cited data from Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War indicating that at least 438 Ukrainians have died in Russian captivity.Between May 2025 and May 2026, the bodies of 169 fallen Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were returned to Ukraine. Autopsies revealed signs of torture and the denial of medical care as direct causes of death.Katzarova said she did not expect Russian authorities to investigate the deaths. Other Topics of Interest Russian Phishing Drones Target Kyiv With Malware QR-Codes in Pro-Ukraine Pamphlets Flyers pushed a false narrative about a “new” combat unit of traitors fighting for Russia, possibly in hopes readers would be angered and scan a QR code without thinking. “The machinery of torture is working overtime, and it is particularly brutal against Ukrainian detainees because the level of impunity is so high. Sometimes, torturing Ukrainian detainees can even earn you a promotion,” she said.Her report to the UN General Assembly states that Russian courts convicted at least 585 Ukrainians in politically motivated cases between September 2025 and August 2026. The group included 226 civilian hostages and 359 military personnel.Among the cases highlighted in the report were those of captured Azov Brigade fighters Dmytro Selizar and Mykola Kuzmenko. Selizar was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Kuzmenko’s sentence was increased to 27 years.Katzarova also described the case of Ukrainian civilian Natalia Vlasova, who testified that she had been raped and tortured with electric shocks by members of the armed formations of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (“DPR”). She also said her teeth had been filed down with a metal file.Vlasova described the abuse during a hearing at a military court in Rostov. However, rather than ordering an investigation into her allegations, the judge sentenced her to 18 years and two months in prison. She is currently being held in a Russian penal colony.“I have a list of 20 women, but there are many more,” Katzarova said, referring to documented cases of sexual violence and torture against Ukrainian women in captivity.She added that beatings, sexual violence and electric shocks remained common practices in Russian prisons. According to Katzarova, even prison medical staff are directly involved in abuse, sometimes helping conceal evidence of torture.The UN expert stressed that documenting these crimes was essential to ensuring accountability and preparing cases for future trials.Among the international mechanisms available to prosecute those responsible, she cited the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of committing international crimes, even when the crimes were committed outside their territory.However, she said these mechanisms required sufficient funding, political will and appropriate resources to be effective.Katzarova also pointed to the establishment of her UN mandate to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Russia as a significant achievement.“The most important achievement is the very existence of a mandate to monitor and report on the human rights situation in one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – among the most untouchable states. This is the first time in the UN’s 80-year history that such a mandate has been established,” she said.She said the testimonies she had collected and documented cases of violations should form the basis for further investigations and accountability efforts.Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets also called for all crimes committed against Ukrainian POWs and civilian detainees to be documented and those responsible brought to justice.“I emphasize: every crime committed against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be documented. Every torturer, every organizer of unlawful persecution, and everyone who knowingly conceals these crimes must be held accountable,” Lubinets wrote on Telegram.He also recalled that his office and partners had launched a project titled “Made in Russia. Delivered to Captivity,” documenting Russian crimes against Ukrainian prisoners.“This is not a Russian stage set. It is a reality in which Ukrainians are tortured, humiliated, and deprived of their lives – a reality that Russia attempts to hide, but which cannot be silenced,” he said.As of June 2026, Ukrainian authorities had identified 1,877 civilians held in Russian prisons. Since the beginning of Russia‘s full-scale invasion, 9,446 people have been returned from captivity, including 457 civilians. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.