Evidence is growing that the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian detention centres is not only widespread but a deliberate and organised policy supported at the highest levels of the Russian state. According to human rights analyst Vladyslav Gavrylov, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is directly involved in the brutal treatment of prisoners, suggesting state sanctioned abuse with international legal consequences.
Gavrylov, who works with the Media Initiative for Human Rights, stated that torture during interrogations is carried out not only by prison guards but also by FSB agents and officers of the Russian Investigative Committee. He highlighted the role of Department M of the FSB, which oversees the prison system and is reportedly central in these acts of abuse.
He emphasised that this is not random violence or the result of rogue elements but part of a consistent and deliberate policy carried out by the Russian dictatorship. Gavrylov called for international accountability, stressing that these actions meet the legal threshold of war crimes and should trigger global judicial response.
These allegations come amid new evidence, including a harrowing video showing the execution of four Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian troops. The footage, shared by the Associated Press, shows the victims being shot after surrendering. This act, according to Ukrainian officials and international law experts, is a clear war crime.
Human rights advocates say these killings are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern of systemic brutality committed by Russia. Ukraine has urged international bodies to launch thorough investigations and hold those responsible to account.
In response to the growing number of cases, Ukraine has expanded support for families of prisoners of war and those missing in action. Special centres have been set up across regions to offer counselling and legal aid.
