UN commission alleges ‘widespread and systematic’ torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russians

A special UN commission charged with investigating the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war found the “widespread and systematic” use of torture by Russian officials both in Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

“The commission has found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding war crimes, in areas that came under their control in Ukraine,” read the report prepared for the UN Human Rights Council and released Friday.

The commission found 11 detention centers where atrocities are carried out, with most of the torture victims were male and between the ages of 21 to 58.

The report claims that as they were beating a man, Russian authorities asked a Ukrainian captive, “When will you finally die?”

Individuals were also subjected to “electric shocks” to different parts of their bodies, “including when detainees went to the bathhouse and were wet.”

Former male POWs told the Commission of Inquiry they were subjected to genital torture, “objectionable touching during invasive body searches” and threats of rape.

“A victim recounted perpetrators’ attempts to cut his penis, in order to ‘prevent him from having more children,” said the report, which further alleges starving Ukrainian soldiers were forced to eat soap, worms and old dog food.

Russia denied the report’s claims.