UN Finds Systematic Torture Led to 438 Deaths of Ukrainians in Russian Custody
Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova details state-approved abuse and fabricated terrorism charges in a report to the General Assembly.
By Adriana Abebe ·
A United Nations report released on November 5 provides a detailed account of the physical treatment of Ukrainian detainees held by Russian authorities. The document, presented to the UN General Assembly, identifies 438 Ukrainians who died while in Russian captivity. Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, stated that torture and ill-treatment have evolved into core state policy rather than remaining isolated incidents.
Katzarova described beatings, sexual violence, and electric shocks as common practices within Russian prison facilities. She noted that medical staff frequently assist in concealing evidence of physical damage, a process she said is approved at the highest levels of Russian leadership. The report indicates that this system operates with high impunity, to the point where torturing Ukrainian prisoners can result in promotions for the perpetrators.
The legal status of captured Ukrainian servicemen remains a major point of contention. Russian authorities largely refuse to recognize them as combatants and instead prosecute them under fabricated terrorism charges. Katzarova stated that approximately 90% of prisoners brought before Russian courts face these charges, a practice she described as a direct violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Between September 2025 and August 2026, Russian courts issued sentences in at least 585 politically motivated cases involving Ukrainians. This group included 226 civilian hostages and 359 military personnel. Specific cases cited include Dmytro Selizar, a soldier from the Azov Brigade sentenced to 18 years, and Mykola Kuzmenko, an Azov fighter whose sentence was increased to 27 years.
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed the death toll of 438. Between May 2025 and May 2026, the bodies of 169 military personnel and civilians were returned to Ukraine. Post-mortem examinations revealed that signs of torture and the denial of adequate medical care were direct causes of their deaths.
The report also documents the death in captivity of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna. As of June 2026, Ukrainian authorities had identified 1,877 civilians currently held in Russian prisons. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, a total of 9,446 people have been returned from captivity, a figure that includes 457 civilians.
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets stressed the need for rigorous documentation of every crime against prisoners. He emphasized that every torturer and organizer of unlawful persecution must be held accountable. Earlier findings in August 2024 reported that over 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war had been tortured, while a September 2025 report indicated more than 90% of civilians suffered abuse in captivity.
