Human rights activists tell how Russia’s invaders tortured women in Kherson region

Human rights activists told about this during a briefing at Ukraine Media Center.

Legal analyst Onysia Synyuk said that about 30 women who were held in the temporary detention center (TDC) No. 1 of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kherson region for different periods of time were identified and interviewed. They were held for different periods of time, from a few hours to several months.

It is reported that special attention during the detentions was paid to women who either worked in law enforcement agencies of Ukraine or allegedly had links with the resistance movement.

The human rights activists also described the conditions of detention. There were three cells in total. Each was designed for 2-3 people. However, on average, 5 women were held in a cell, sometimes their number reached 9.

At first, there were no showers in the cells, then the occupiers introduced a schedule for visiting the shower room, allocating a few minutes for all women. 

As for food, at first the women were fed once a day, but after the rotation of the Russian military, the conditions changed. They started having three meals a day, but the food was brought in the morning, in insufficient quantities, and for dinner it was already sour. 

Acts of torture were recorded against 5 women.

"These included beatings, electric shocks, and waterboarding. Water was either poured into their mouths or a cotton cloth was pulled over their heads, watered, and when it dried, it shrank and did not allow air to pass through. Electrocution was applied to their bare breasts," she said.

In addition, women were humiliated, stripped naked during detention, and threatened with rape against them and their children. Torture was carried out in front of other detainees to intimidate them. It is also noted that the violence was carried out during the day and at night. 

"One of the victims was forced to listen to the screams of her husband, who was held in the cell opposite. For a more effective emotional perception, the doors of both cells were open," the statement said.

The women were not informed why they were being detained, in violation of the legal procedure of detention. Three of the victims said they were not given any reason, while others said they were detained under the pretext of checking their documents.

• In the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, Russian terrorists made a torture chamber in a school gym.