Ukrainian prisoners of war recount dog attacks, electric shocks and sexual violence while in Russian captivity

This is reported by Reuters.

In Geneva on Tuesday, the UN human rights office said both Russia and Ukraine tortured prisoners of war, citing examples including the use of electric shocks and forced undressing, but there was a significant difference.

Matilda Bogner, head of the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine and head of the monitoring mission, said the abuse of Ukrainian prisoners by the Russians was "quite systematic," while she said Ukraine's abuse of Russian soldiers "was not systematic."

The monitoring group made its findings based on interviews with more than 100 prisoners of war from each side of the conflict since April. Ukrainian prisoners were contacted after their release, since the Russian Federation did not grant access.

The "vast majority" of Ukrainian prisoners interviewed by the UN have reported torture and ill-treatment.  Bogner cited examples of dog attacks, mock executions, electric shocks, and sexual assault.

Bogner said the treatment was intended to intimidate and humiliate them.  One man in a correctional facility near Olenivka told the team that members of the Russian-linked armed forces "attached wires to my genitalia, my nose and shocked me. They were just having fun and were not interested in my answers to their questions."

Russia denies torture and other forms of ill-treatment of prisoners of war.

On the Ukrainian side, Bogner reported on "credible" statements about extrajudicial executions of Russian prisoners, noting that no progress has been observed in the investigation of these cases by the Ukrainian authorities.

Other Russian prisoners reported poor and humiliating transportation conditions and being packed into trucks or vans naked, with their hands tied behind their backs. The UN team said it also documented cases of so-called "welcome beatings" at a penal colony.

“Kyiv has previously said it checks all information regarding the treatment of POWs and will investigate any violations and take appropriate legal action. Most of the abuses against Russian POWs were limited to three internment facilities, she said, and were more common during the initial phase of capture,” Reuters reports.

The team of observers plans to visit the areas around Kherson.