Ombudsman: 86% of Ukrainian POWs tortured in Russian captivity

Some 86% of Ukrainian soldiers who made it home from Russian captivity reported being subjected to physical torture by Russian forces.

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said this during an interview with the Ukrainian Pravda.

"As for torture, I can say that, according to our data, 86% of those who returned from captivity reported direct physical torture. This, by the way, was established not only by us but also by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. They report approximately the same figures," Lubinets said.

According to the ombudsman, after returning from Russian captivity, Ukrainian defenders are dealt with by a number of specialists. Firstly, they record soldiers' physical and psychological condition before they start working with them actively. An appropriate proceeding is opened into each soldier's situation. Facts are being recorded confirming their brutal treatment.

As Ukrinform reported, 230 Ukrainians were released from Russian captivity last week as part of the latest POW swap effort.

Earlier, Lubinets said that the videos showing gruesome executions of Ukrainian soldiers recently circulating across the internet would not affect Ukraine's treatment of Russian prisoners of war as Kyiv fully undertakes to comply with the Geneva Convention.