Photo: Clash Report / X
A Ukrainian soldier had the words “Glory to Russia” branded onto his body while being held in Russian captivity according to a photo published on breaking news website Clash Report on Monday, which Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed is authentic.
The photograph shows the body of a man with numerous scars and a long incision from his chest down to his abdomen. The right side of his torso is branded with the words “Glory to Russia”, while the left-hand side also shows signs of scarring.
Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson, said the picture was taken by a doctor who examined the unnamed soldier, who had been returned from captivity in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, independent news outlet Hromadske reported.
“Sadly, the photo is real. … A doctor examining the men … undergoing rehabilitation was outraged, took a photo and posted it online. This is evidence of what our defenders are going through while being held in captivity,” Yusov said.
Yusov said that many former POWs showed critical weight loss after returning from Russian captivity, and said Russia systematically violated the conventions for detaining prisoners of war.
On Monday, Russia and Ukraine carried out the first round of a fresh prisoner swap in which they exchanged soldiers under 25. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the exchange would take place over several days, and would also include gravely wounded prisoners, as was agreed during the latest round of negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv on 2 June. A second group of POWs was exchanged on Tuesday.
Late last month, the Associated Press reported that over 200 Ukrainian POWs had died in Russian detention centres, penal colonies and prisons since the beginning of the war. Many had died due to ill-treatment while in custody.
One of those killed in Russian captivity was Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, whose body was returned with parts missing, investigative media outlet IStories revealed in a joint international investigation in April. A Ukrainian law enforcement source said this could be an attempt to cover up torture. Roshchyna had been electrocuted and stabbed and lost up to 30kg while in captivity, according to a documentary about the late journalist’s last months that came out in March.