Report details systematic torture of Ukrainian detainees in Russian-run centres
Former Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians describe systematic abuse in Russian-run detention centres, including beatings and electric shocks during a ritual called “admission”. A report by the Centre for Civil Liberties says medical staff also took part in abuse, raising concerns about the treatment of detainees and the use of torture to break them or extract information.
The report names Ilya Sorokin, known to prisoners as “Doctor Evil”, who worked at Penal Facility No 10 in Mordovia and was accused of using a taser on injured detainees. Former prisoners also described abuse by a medical worker nicknamed “Aunt in Pink” at a detention centre in Staryi Oskol. The article cites UN findings that 95 per cent of interviewed Ukrainian PoWs reported torture or ill-treatment, while more than half reported sexual violence.
- Former detainees describe beatings and electric shocks in Russian-run prisons.
- A human rights report accuses medical staff of participating in abuse.
- The UN says 95 per cent of interviewed Ukrainian PoWs reported mistreatment.
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The Russia-Ukraine war has resulted in thousands of detainees being held in Russian-run facilities. How these prisoners are being treated has become a significant concern for human rights advocates and governments worldwide.
A recent report documents allegations that Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian detention centres have been systematically tortured. The abuse is said to have included beatings and electric shocks during intake, with medical staff allegedly participating in the mistreatment.
The allegations are significant because they suggest torture was widespread and systematic rather than isolated incidents. UN findings indicate that the vast majority of interviewed Ukrainian prisoners reported torture or ill-treatment, with many also reporting sexual violence.
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The case for
Multiple detailed testimonies from former prisoners, independent corroboration from UN investigation showing 95 per cent reported torture or ill-treatment, and allegations against named medical staff provide compelling evidence of systematic abuse. Such convergent accounts from numerous independent witnesses, strengthened by international findings, warrant treating these as credible allegations of serious war crimes requiring investigation and accountability.
The case against
Allegations from one side of an active conflict require careful independent verification before definitive conclusions about systematic torture are drawn. Neutral investigative mechanisms must verify specific claims, distinguish isolated incidents from systematic policy, and ensure findings rest on verified evidence rather than potentially compromised testimonies or wartime propaganda.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Inside ‘complete horror’ Russian jails where sadistic ‘Dr Evil’ and ‘Aunt in Pink’ torturers punish Ukrainian PoWs with electric shocks and beatings”.