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The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has uncovered new evidence revealing consistent patterns of torture by Russian authorities against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war in both occupied Ukrainian territories and within the Russian Federation itself.
The findings were detailed by Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission, in his oral update to the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Sept. 23, and were described in a press release put out by the Commission on the same day.
Systematic torture and sexual violence
Møse said that torture committed by the Russian authorities has been “widespread and systematic.”
“The wide geographic spread of locations where torture was committed and the prevalence of shared patterns demonstrate that torture has been used as a common and acceptable practice by Russian authorities, with a sense of impunity,” the official continued.
The Commission also noted “that Russian authorities have committed torture in Ukrainian regions where they have taken control of territories.”
Møse’s speech points to “the consistency of [torture] practices in detention centres where detainees from Ukraine have been held in the Russian Federation, and the replication of these practices in several large penitentiary centres in occupied areas of Ukraine.”
Another common element that emerged from the evidence studied by the Commission pointed toward a “coordinated use of personnel from specific services of the Russian Federation” involved in these acts of torture, while the brutal treatment of prisoners is also common among prison staff. According to testimonies from former detainees, orders for mistreatment in some cases came from higher-ranking Russian authorities.
The UN also reported that common torture methods in detention centers include sexual violence, mainly against male prisoners. Many detainees suffered grave or irreparable physical harm and trauma.
A civilian man subjected to torture for ten consecutive days told the Commission: “The scariest thing was that the perpetrators were doing everything in silence, and very professionally.”
“I understood they were doing this to many people, and they did not perceive us as human beings,” he added.
Most victims emphasized the deep psychological impact of the experience, both on themselves and on their families. They reported difficulties in rebuilding relationships with loved ones and reintegrating into society, and they also expressed a need for psychological and social support.
Attacks on civilian infrastructure and energy systems
The commission is also investigating the strikes carried out by the Russian army on civilian infrastructure in populated areas. Medical facilities, cultural sites, residential buildings, and supermarkets in Ukrainian-controlled territories have all suffered damage from these attacks.
Ongoing strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have led to power outages, impacting the health and well-being of millions of civilians. “Older persons and persons with disabilities have suffered from difficulties to access shelters during emergencies, reduced access to life-saving medical devices, and increased isolation, which accentuated their vulnerabilities. Blackouts also led to disruptions of online education, resulting in greater losses for displaced children and children with disabilities, who are more likely to enroll in remote education,” Møse added.
The commission stressed the importance of continuing investigations, identifying the perpetrators, holding them accountable, and providing comprehensive support to the victims.
Speaking with The Insider, Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia, stated that Moscow has ignored her attempts to initiate dialogue. Her views on human rights violations in Russia have been labeled as “Russophobic.”
“Politics plays a huge role, not just in Russia. Many governments, due to their interests, are willing to turn a blind eye to what’s happening in other countries because they depend on them financially or economically. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the world has indeed become more divided. Unfortunately, the Russian government does not permit my mandate in the Russian Federation. I request this every year because I see it as an opportunity to engage in dialogue — first and foremost with the government and authorities. The response to my requests is silence.
They label me a Russophobe because of the organizations I have worked with. Before this mandate, I spent 10 years at Amnesty International in Russia, worked at the UN, led the UN monitoring mission in Donbas, and later headed an investigation on Belarus. I’ve always worked in organizations that can hardly be called Russophobic, as the UN and Amnesty International are the largest human rights organizations [in the world]. I don’t know who is left that hasn’t been declared a foreign agent. This affects a huge number of organizations and individuals, and all of this is happening against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine.”