Invaders tortured women with electric shocks, water in Kherson detention center

This was discussed at the press conference entitled "Women's cells of Kherson torture chamber: the presentation of the report on Ukrainian women detained by Russia". The organizers of the event are Ukraine Media Center — Ukrinform and Human Rights Centre ZMINA.

According to ZMINA legal analyst Onysiia Syniuk, human rights defenders of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA collected testimonies of victims and witnesses. In particular, about 30 women were found, who at various times were held in temporary detention center (TDC) No. 1 of the Main Department of the National Police in Kherson Region.

"We managed to document cases of torture against five women. These are beatings, the use of electric shocks, and the use of water. Water was either poured into the mouth, or a cotton cloth was pulled over the head, watered, and when it dried, it shrunk and did not allow air to pass. Electric shocks were applied to bare breasts," Syniuk said during the event.

According to her, women were constantly humiliated. They were forcibly undressed during detention and further, they and their children were threatened with rape.

Psychological violence was used. In particular, some tortures were carried out in cells in the presence of other women to intimidate the detainees. The torture was carried out day and night; screams were heard in all premises of the detention center.

One of the victims was forced to listen to the screams of her husband, who was held in the opposite cell. For stronger emotional perception, the doors of both cells were opened.

Women were detained in violation of all rights. They were not told why they were detained or where they were taken. The number of people held in cells exceeded the standards for staying in TDC twice or more. Women were given five minutes to take a shower. Food was brought once a day, in insufficient quantity, by the evening it got sour. No medical care was provided, and when a doctor came very rarely, he said that the women were faking illnesses, the press conference participants said.

As a result of such torture and abuse, women had numerous diseases, weight loss, stress, etc. after their release, the researchers stated.

As reported, about 20 torture chambers were found in Kherson, where the Russian invaders held residents of the temporarily occupied city. The Russian Federation financed the system of these prisons at the state level.