The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has determined that Russia’s systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians constitutes a crime against humanity, according to a new report presented to the General Assembly.
Commission Chair Erik Møse revealed that investigations uncovered evidence of Russian authorities implementing “organized state policy” in their treatment of detainees.
“Torture is much more widespread and systematic than we knew,” Møse told Voice of America.
The report documents how Russia has transferred abusive detention practices from its facilities to occupied territories in Ukraine.
Sexual violence emerged as a particular concern, with the Commission noting its widespread use against male detainees.
The investigation revealed coordinated patterns of abuse across multiple detention facilities. According to Møse, comparing treatment of POWs across different centers showed “torture is much more widespread and systematic than we knew, but also that there is organized state policy.”
The Commission gathered evidence through remote interviews with released civilians and POWs due to the lack of direct access to Russian detention facilities.
The report calls on Russia to hold perpetrators accountable, including commanders who ordered or encouraged international crimes, and to cooperate with international monitoring and investigative bodies.
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