In late September, Russia officially denounced the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ceasing its obligations to allow international inspectors into penitentiary institutions. This action, prompted by alleged restrictions within the Council of Europe, significantly alters monitoring mechanisms and transparency regarding detention conditions. The denunciation follows Russia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe in 2022 and raises concerns about human rights, particularly in light of reports of violence against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Consequently, there is a pressing need for heightened scrutiny from the international community and human rights organizations to address potential shifts in the protection of prisoners’ rights.
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Investigative journalists have identified Dr. Ilya Sorokin as the alleged perpetrator of torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war at Penal Colony No. 10 in Mordovia, Russia. Sorokin, nicknamed “Dr. Evil,” reportedly subjected detainees to beatings, stun gun use, humiliation, and denied medical care. These prisoners endured grueling conditions, including forced standing for extended periods, constant exposure to Russian patriotic songs, and coerced recitations of the Russian national anthem, with at least 177 soldiers experiencing severe physical and psychological abuse. Sadly, at least four prisoners died during this period.
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Ukrainian female prisoners of war are enduring horrific ordeals at the hands of Russian troops, suffering systematic torture and brutal humiliation. Accounts from survivors paint a harrowing picture of abuse that goes far beyond the battlefield, revealing a deliberate campaign to degrade and dehumanize these women. The sheer cruelty of forcing them to walk naked through the snow, exposed to the elements and the leering eyes of their captors, is shocking. This act alone represents a profound violation of basic human rights and international laws of war.
The systematic nature of this abuse is deeply disturbing. It’s not just isolated incidents of cruelty; these women describe a pattern of deliberate degradation, designed to inflict maximum psychological damage.… Continue reading
A U.N. investigation documented both Ukrainian and Russian forces committing executions, analyzing visual evidence and witness testimonies. These incidents, occurring during Russian offensives, were contextualized by public statements from Russian officials explicitly advocating for the inhumane treatment and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war. The U.N. mission highlighted the potential for such statements, coupled with amnesty laws, to incite unlawful actions. Both the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office and Ombudsman have also reported increased instances of prisoner executions.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the capture of two wounded North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region, currently receiving medical care and being questioned in Kyiv. Zelenskyy highlighted the rarity of this capture, citing typical Russian practices of eliminating wounded North Korean soldiers to hide their involvement in the war. He attributed the capture to the difficult efforts of Ukrainian forces and has granted media access to the prisoners. These captures follow earlier reports of thousands of North Korean troops deployed to Ukraine by Russia and suffering heavy casualties.
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Since the start of the full-scale invasion, at least 147 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been executed by Russian forces, with a significant increase in 2024. These executions, documented through videos and photos, often depict summary killings in remote locations, and include instances of beheadings and mass shootings. Ukrainian prosecutors are investigating these war crimes, noting a systemic increase suggesting a deliberate policy. The killings violate international humanitarian law, despite some Russian commanders explicitly ordering the taking of no prisoners.
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Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya, visited Ukrainian prisoners of war and threatened to use them as human shields against drone attacks, proposing to station them on rooftops of key facilities. He also suggested a prisoner shoot himself, highlighting the brutality of war. This action follows Kadyrov’s previous order to stop taking prisoners, later rescinded, and contradicts Ukraine’s claims of readiness for prisoner exchanges. Video evidence, including the identification of a missing Ukrainian soldier, corroborates the event.
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Photos of released Ukrainian prisoners of war showing their emaciated bodies in horrifying condition have recently surfaced, shedding light on the atrocities happening in the midst of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. As I scroll through these images, my heart aches at the sight of these individuals who have clearly suffered immensely at the hands of their captors. It is a stark reminder of the inhumanity that can manifest in times of war, where basic human rights are often disregarded in the pursuit of power.
The juxtaposition of these haunting photographs with advertisements for happy, carefree products seems almost surreal.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood