Two Ukrainian prisoners of war who were released from Russian jails in April have told openDemocracy about the terrible conditions they faced – including systematic torture and other violations of their human rights.
Little is known about the conditions in which Russia is holding Ukrainians. More than 7,000 Ukrainian military personnel and 1,500 civilians are currently in captivity there, Ukrainian officials say.
According to former captives and Ukrainian authorities, detainees are usually held in prisons close to Russia’s border with Ukraine: in the Kursk, Rostov and Bryansk regions.
