Torture of Ukrainian prisoners 'Widespread and systematic,' UN rights official says

Ukrainian officials and former detainees accused Russia of widespread and systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees at an informal UN Security Council meeting. Allegations included beatings, electric shocks, and sexual abuse, with thousands still held captive. Khuan Alberto Levya Garsiya, a Ukrainian soldier, recounted enduring "daily beatings, electrocution, excessive exercises in freezing cold... sexual abuse" during 1,183 days in captivity, stating two friends were beaten to death. Crimean Tatar activist Leniie Umerova also described being moved through "seven detention facilities" and accused Russia of torture. Oleg Gushin of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that over 9,000 Ukrainians have been returned, but thousands remain. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Claudia Fuentes Julio confirmed UN monitoring shows "widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees by the Russian Federation authorities continues," including sexual violence, with over 95% of interviewed Ukrainian POWs reporting torture. She noted the UN also documented abuse of Russian prisoners by Ukraine, but "on a fundamentally different scale." Russia rejected the claims, calling them a "disinformation campaign."