UN: Over 16,000 Civilians Still Detained by Russia in Ukraine Conflict
The United Nations estimates over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians remain detained by Russia, facing widespread torture and inhumane conditions. Many are held without legal grounds, and the UN has not been granted access to detention facilities.
Key takeaways
- Over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are estimated to be detained by Russia.
- Detainees report widespread torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence.
- Many civilians are held on grounds not compliant with international law.
- The UN has not been granted access to Russian detention facilities.
More than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians continue to be held by Russian authorities, according to estimates from the United Nations. These individuals are reportedly deprived of their liberty on grounds that do not align with international legal standards. The UN also indicated that widespread and systematic torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence against both civilian detainees and prisoners of war by Russia are ongoing.
Claudia Fuentes Julio, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, stated these findings at an informal UN Security Council meeting. The meeting, convened by Latvia and the United Kingdom, aimed to highlight the situation of those captured during the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
UN human rights staff have interviewed 910 released Ukrainian prisoners of war and 403 released civilian detainees since the invasion. Of those interviewed, over 95% of prisoners of war and 85% of civilian detainees reported experiencing torture or ill-treatment, often repeatedly. Detainees also reported sexual attacks and inhumane conditions, including severe food deprivation and inadequate medical services.
The UN human rights office has documented the executions of 129 Ukrainian prisoners of war at the start of their captivity, and the deaths of 48 prisoners of war in custody due to torture, denial of medical care, or other inhumane detention conditions. The UN has not been granted access to visit detention facilities within Russia.
Key Facts
- The United Nations estimates that over 16,000 civilians detained by Russia during the war in Ukraine are still held.
- Many detainees are held incommunicado and on grounds that do not comply with international law.
- Widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, are reported against civilian detainees and prisoners of war by Russia.
- UN human rights staff interviewed 910 released Ukrainian prisoners of war and 403 released civilian detainees.
- More than 95% of interviewed Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85% of interviewed civilian detainees reported torture or ill-treatment.
- The UN human rights office documented the execution of 129 Ukrainian prisoners of war and the deaths of 48 prisoners of war in custody.
- The UN has not been able to visit detention facilities in Russia.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
