Russia trains specialists for prisoner torture system - Ukraine’s intelligence

Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, made this statement during the forum Russia's Genocidal Practices in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russo-Ukrainian War.

"Specific individuals are responsible for this [torture system]. This is how individual 'specialists' are trained - methods of torture are described, and they learn to use them. This is something unimaginable to any representative of Western civilized nations," Yusov stated.

He noted that, according to UN research, over 95% of servicemen released from Russian captivity were subjected to torture or other violations of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions.

"In most cases, it wasn't about using force to obtain information. These were deliberate acts of torture aimed at breaking a person's resistance, destroying their identity, humiliating their dignity, and forcing them to abandon everything they hold valuable. Or to break those near them," Yusov added.

Read also: Ukrainian ombudsman explains Russia's increasing POW executions

According to him, the organizations responsible for monitoring and enforcing the Geneva Conventions and humanitarian law are effectively non-functional. Specifically, this includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which Russia does not allow access to detention sites or involve in preparations and exchanges.

"At the same time, the ICRC's position, frankly speaking, should in many cases be significantly more proactive. Where blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russia are documented, it should not be Ukraine, as the victim, highlighting these issues, but the structures responsible for ensuring compliance with the Geneva Conventions - which, in many cases, is not happening," Yusov emphasized.

The Defense Intelligence representative noted that even under such conditions, Ukraine continues its efforts to bring back Ukrainian defenders and abducted civilians from captivity. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, there have been 58 exchanges, resulting in nearly 4,000 Ukrainians returning home.

"Unfortunately, negotiations are still ongoing for thousands of others. We must fight for them - both military personnel and civilians," Andrii Yusov added.

• The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine stated that after abducting Ukrainian children from occupied territories, Russia seeks to strip them of their Ukrainian identity.