The report of the Amnesty International Ukraine does not mention Russian prisoners of war, as Ukraine does not violate the Geneva Conventions
Representatives from Amnesty International Ukraine, along with a British researcher, visited the camps where Russian prisoners of war (POWs) are held. After their visit, they concluded that Ukraine is not violating international law in its treatment of Russian prisoners. This finding was presented by Olena Kozachenko, Assistant Researcher at Amnesty International Ukraine, during the release of Amnesty International’s report on war crimes committed against Russian prisoners in captivity, as reported by ZMINA.
Olena Kozachenko. Photo: FacebookKozachenko explained that her role in this research was technical.
“The British researcher was doing it, so it [the research] was unbiased and independent. I helped with the interpretation. They are doing well, as far as they can be. They have medical care, food, a library. They have the opportunity to exercise sports, they watch TV, they work, they are paid salaries according to the Geneva Convention,” she adds.
While in the camp, Amnesty International representatives witnessed Russian prisoners undergoing medical examinations. The Russians stood in line to receive glasses, lenses and other medical supplies. Every three months, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visit them to record their condition and detention conditions.
Each has a card account to which their relatives can transfer money. There is a shop on the territory of the POW colony where they can purchase food and all other necessary things. Some prisoners receive parcels from their relatives, while others refuse them.
“One of them complained that the colony staff spoke to him in Ukrainian. It was difficult for him to understand the officials of the POW colony. He also complained that they stopped giving him vitamins and that, at first, he could not do sports. He is a former athlete. He was happy when the sports ground was built,” Kozachenko said.
According to a study by Amnesty International Ukraine, all Russians are in good physical condition, and the wounded are treated appropriately when necessary.
By way of background, most of the bodies of Ukrainians repatriated from Russian detention centers have signs of torture. The signs of torture include both physical abuse and inhumane conditions of detention. In particular, there is a lack of proper nutrition and treatment.
As recently as February of 2025, an additional prisoner swap between Ukrainian and Russian forces freed 150 Ukrainian captured service men and women, which the United Arab Emirates brokered. There have been 61 prisoner exchanges between Ukrainian and Russian forces, freeing a total of 4,131 Ukrainian service men and women as well as civilians.
Additionally, Lubinets told Ukrinform in an interview that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are held in Russian captivity, of whom 168 have been released. As well, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the bodies of approximately 220 Ukrainians who died while in Russian captivity have been returned to Ukraine.
The register of missing persons under special circumstances contains more than 71,000 entries. It includes data on both military and civilians. Roughly 30,000 people have been considered missing since the onset of 2024 alone.
Cover photo: Office of the Ombudsman
