By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Russia’s torture of Ukrainian civilians and captives of war is a crime against humanity, according to the UN. The ongoing investigations are examining the use of violent practices and sexual violence as a form of torture at Ukrainian detention centres controlled by Russians. Detainees reported “routinely harsh practices” as well as violent treatment during interrogations, with surveillance cameras used to observe them. The investigators say the authorities took no action to stop the torture or ill-treatment, and evidence suggests that the Russian authorities acted intentionally to torture civilians and prisoners of war, constituting a coordinated state policy.
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Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners is nothing short of a crime against humanity. The recent statements from a UN expert panel bring this grim reality into sharp focus, but reading their conclusions leaves me with a sense of bitter frustration. I shouldn’t need “expert” panels to recognize something that feels glaringly obvious. Torture, in whatever form—be it physical suffering or sexual violence—is abhorrent and unforgivable. It should never have taken so long for the international community to acknowledge the systematic pattern of violence being perpetrated against innocent people.
The panel’s findings reveal disturbing truths about the use of torture in Russian detention facilities, both within Russia and in the occupied territories of Ukraine. The reported acts of rape, forced nudity, and inhumane treatment are shocking yet unsurprising; they echo the darkest chapters of human history. It feels surreal that the UN is only now confirming what many of us instinctively knew over two years ago. Waiting for experts to present their findings is redundant when the evidence is already so clear. The real question is, what will be done with this knowledge? The UN can issue statements until the cows come home, but without actionable responses, those words ring hollow.
International leaders’ gestures, like the recent handshake between the UN Secretary-General and Putin, further complicate my feelings about this entire situation. It’s infuriating to witness such a juxtaposition. How can we condemn atrocities while simultaneously engaging with the perpetrators? Such actions dilute the gravity of the crimes and afford the guilty a sense of normalcy, as if they aren’t currently waging war against a sovereign nation. The idea that a mere letter of condemnation is sufficient is laughable and shameful. It’s a farce that perpetuates inaction against clear violations of human dignity.
As this war rages on, the death toll continues to rise while the world watches, seemingly paralyzed. I question the sincerity of the global community in their response to Russia’s crimes. The extensive use of violence against civilians isn’t just being ignored; it’s being trivialized. The focus often teeters on diplomatic niceties rather than genuine outrage and action. The reality is, if we continue to let words replace deeds, we risk trivializing the suffering of victims and becoming complicit in their oppression.
Enabling regimes that commit such heinous acts defies logic. We witness a pattern where the world’s response to evil becomes a mere rhetoric game. Behind every statistic is a human life—families torn apart, futures lost, and traumas that will last lifetimes. It’s frustrating to feel that the UN’s role now seems to resemble nothing more than a toothless tiger, issuing condemnation without providing the means necessary to enact change. This is past the point of understanding; it’s long overdue for the world to act decisively.
Among all the atrocities reported, the chilling evidence of sexual violence as a form of torture stands out as especially horrific. It’s a degradation that goes beyond physical pain—it strips victims of their humanity in a calculated effort to instill fear. This is dark, state-sanctioned sadism—a culture of inflicting maximum suffering aimed at both torturing the body and breaking the spirit. Those who exercise such barbarity should be held to account, not just on paper but in practice.
The tired excuse of needing “more evidence” or “clarity on context” cannot stand against the weight of human suffering we’re witnessing in Ukraine. Every day we fail to act is a day we signals complicity in a farce of jurisprudence that offers little more than emptiness. The international community must wake up; if we continue to excuse, deplore, and then excuse again, history will repeat itself.
We stand at a crossroads, where the response to these felonies could shape the future not just for Ukraine, but for every nation that values humanity. When confronted with the horrors inflicted by the Russian state, silence is not an option, and inaction is a tacit endorsement of brutality. What we desperately need is not more reports or panels that simply reaffirm the obvious, but forthright action that counters these crimes against humanity and brings those responsible to justice. The time for talk is over; we must demand accountability, and we must act.