The United Nations has reported that more than 16,000 civilians held by Russia during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are still deprived of their liberty. Many of these individuals are allegedly detained in conditions that violate international law, with numerous cases of incommunicado detention being documented.

Claudia Fuentes Julio, the UN’s assistant secretary-general for human rights, provided these details during an informal meeting of the UN Security Council on 7 August 2026, convened by Latvia and the United Kingdom. She noted that the situation for both civilian detainees and prisoners of war continues to be dire as military actions intensify.

UN human rights officials have conducted interviews with 910 Ukrainian prisoners of war as well as 403 civilian detainees who were released since the onset of the war. However, the UN has not yet had access to detention facilities within Russia and cannot specify the exact demographic details of the detained individuals.

Continued Allegations of Torture and Inhumane Treatment

According to Julio, reports indicate that over 95 per cent of Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85 per cent of civilian detainees have experienced torture or ill-treatment. These reports include allegations of sexual violence and serious shortcomings in medical care, highlighting a climate of inhumane conditions.

The UN has documented specific incidents, such as the execution of 129 Ukrainian prisoners of war early in their captivity and the reported deaths of 48 others while in detention due to torture and a lack of medical attention. Such allegations paint a grim picture of the treatment of those captured during the conflict.

Further testimonies were shared during the meeting by Leniie Umerova, a Crimean Tatar human rights activist who identified herself as a political prisoner. Umerova described her experiences following her detention while attempting to visit her ailing father. She alleged that she faced fabricated charges and endured a series of unlawful detentions across multiple facilities.

Personal Accounts from Former Detainees

Khuan Leyva Garsiya, a Ukrainian soldier who endured captivity for 1,183 days after surrendering at the Azovstal steel plant, spoke about his harrowing experiences. He described severe mistreatment, including physical and psychological torture, which he claimed were exacerbated due to his Cuban ancestry—leading the Russian forces to suspect him of being a spy.

Garsiya shared details of his condition upon release, revealing that he had lost significant weight and endured prolonged periods of abuse. He stated that torture tactics employed against prisoners included beatings and freezing conditions, and he highlighted incidents where fellow prisoners died due to the harsh treatment in Russian facilities.

During the meeting, Julio also reported that interviews with 816 Russian soldiers and 57 members of foreign armed forces in Ukraine indicate that about half had experienced torture or ill-treatment during their initial detention. However, returns from those who reached Ukrainian facilities indicated conditions were generally compliant with international law.

In response, Maria Zabolotskaya, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, refuted these claims, asserting that Russian forces adhere to international humanitarian law. She accused Ukrainians of committing abuses against Russian detainees, framing the Security Council session as part of a misinformation campaign against Russia.

Ukraine’s deputy UN ambassador, Volodymyr Pavlichenko, remarked on Russia’s reluctance to engage in discussions regarding the repatriation of prisoners of war or other detained civilians, including abducted children, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis arising from the conflict.

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