Ukraine is investigating illegal detention of over 14,000 civilians by Russia

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said this during a panel discussion “Torture and persecution of civilians as crimes against humanity by the Russian authorities in Ukraine,” the Prosecutor General's Office reports.

The Prosecutor General reported that over 170 torture chambers have been discovered so far, and nearly everyone who has returned from Russian captivity has been subjected to various forms of violence.

“Russia's crimes against civilians are widespread and massive and have signs of crimes against humanity,” Kostin emphasized.

The Prosecutor General emphasized that one of the key prerequisites for the proper documentation and investigation of such crimes is the joint effort of national and international partners.

“As of today, the Prosecutor General's Office has served 261 people with notices of suspicion for crimes related to the illegal detention of civilians, and 58 people have been sentenced,” Kostin added.

During the event, a new joint report from the World Organization Against Torture, the Media Initiative for Human Rights and the Zmina Human Rights Center was presented.

• The European Court of Human Rights has recognized systematic violations of Ukrainians' rights by Russia since its February 2014 occupation of Crimea.