Shame of Russian torturers
Captives are ‘suffocated and hit with baseball bats’
Love and defiance ... portrait of the first lady of Kyiv
RUSSIA’S torture tactics on Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been revealed in a shocking report by Human Rights Watch.
From talking to those who escaped, the organisation has uncovered human rights violations and possible war crimes in parts of Ukraine’s south which were seized by Moscow’s troops in March.
Its findings describe how Ukrainian captives were suffocated with plastic bags, beaten with baseball bats, and given electric shocks.
There were victims who were beaten so badly that they were left with broken ribs, missing teeth, severe burns, and eye damage. Those who were released could ‘barely walk’ anymore.
‘ Russian forces have turned occupied areas of southern Ukraine into an abyss of fear and
wild lawlessness,’ said Yulia Gorbunova, a senior researcher for the pressure group.
In nearly every case, Russia did not inform families on the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Human Rights Watch also found that pro-Ukraine protesters and journalists were subjected to violence for criticising pro-Moscow
administrators. Three soldiers, who should have been protected by the Geneva Convention, which governs the laws of war, were also tortured in Russian captivity.
Two were killed while Ukrainian army volunteer, known as Oleh, survived to recount the horrors he suffered at the hands of the occupiers. Tamila Tasheva, Ukraine’s
special envoy for Crimea, estimated at least 600 people had disappeared from Kherson since February when Russian invaders stormed the region. They claimed control of the city a week later. Russia’s foreign ministry did not reply to a request for comment. n An EU plot to enforce wartimestyle gas rationing was watered
down last night after a revolt by Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, and Greece angry at being asked to bail out Russia-reliant Germany. The proposals described by Spanish energy minister Teresa Ribera as ‘unfair’ and ‘ineffective’ have been diluted to a voluntarily agreement to reduce gas use by 15 per cent before next April.