There are around 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia – Kondratyuk
Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, has stated that Russia systematically uses torture and deliberately withholds medical care from Ukrainian prisoners of war.
She made these remarks during the presentation of the study ‘Violations of prisoners of war’s rights to healthcare and medical treatment: consequences, classifications and prospects’.
According to Kondratyuk, since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to repatriate over 9,000 citizens, including more than 400 civilians.
“Around 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war are currently being held in Russian captivity. There are between 10,000 and 20,000 Ukrainian civilians. Over 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are subjected to torture and ill-treatment in Russian captivity,” she stated.
Kondratyuk reported that Russia is returning Ukrainians from captivity in a serious condition, bearing signs of torture and without proper medical care.
“And this is part of the aggressor state’s deliberate policy,” said the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.
She also recalled that Russia recently handed over 375 bodies to Ukraine showing signs of torture and a lack of medical care.
“Wounds left to fester. Amputations without anaesthesia. Teeth pulled out without anaesthesia by drunken personnel. Tourniquets removed from the wounded after the terrorist attack in Olenivka. The deliberate denial of medical care is a weapon in its own right for Russia,” Kondratyuk stated.
According to her, such actions constitute a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
Kondratyuk also stated that the deportation of Ukrainian children, crimes against the civilian population, torture and the killing of prisoners form a “complete picture” of the war.
“This war bears the hallmarks of a genocidal policy against the Ukrainian people. Our task is to build a proper evidence base so that all those responsible are brought to justice,” she said.
According to Kondratyuk, the study systematically documents for the first time the medical dimension of Russian crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war and is intended to serve as a body of evidence for the international criminal prosecution of the Russian Federation.
She also emphasised that the return, rehabilitation and further integration of Ukrainians held in Russian captivity remain one of the state’s main priorities.
