About 7,000 prisoners of war and up to 20,000 civilians are currently in Russian captivity – deputy speaker of the Verkhovna Rada

Russia is currently holding about 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war and between 10,000 and 20,000 civilian hostages, some of whom are subjected to systematic torture and ill-treatment, including amputations without anaesthesia and the denial of medical care to wounded detainees. 

Ukrainian lawmakers say this demonstrates a deliberate Kremlin policy against Ukrainians and are calling on the international community to strengthen sanctions against all those involved in war crimes, from Russian medical personnel to senior military commanders, Olena Kondratiuk, deputy speaker of the Verkhovna Radaі , said during an event titled “Genocide Behind Closed Doors”.

Olena Kondratiuk. Photo: Tetiana Romanenko/ Ukrainian parliament press service

The National Interests Advocacy Network ANTS, together with the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), presented a study, “Violations of Prisoners of War’s Rights to Health Care and Medical Treatment: Consequences, Qualifications and Prospects”.

According to Kondratiuk, the study systematically documents the medical dimension of Russian crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war and should become an important body of evidence for the international criminal prosecution of Russia.

She said the scale of torture and denial of medical care pointed to a deliberate Russian state policy and added that the war itself was showing signs of genocide.

“About 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war are currently being held in Russian captivity. The number of civilians ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 Ukrainians. More than 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are subjected to torture and ill-treatment in Russian captivity,” the lawmaker said during the event, according to a ZMINA correspondent.

Kondratiuk also stressed that Russian occupiers do not provide treatment to wounded prisoners and carry out amputations and tooth extractions without anaesthesia.

“The removal of tourniquets from wounded prisoners after the terrorist attack in Olenivka. The deliberate denial of medical care is a separate weapon used by Russia. Legally, these are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the ICC,” she said.

Kondratiuk added that gathering evidence to hold perpetrators accountable remains critically important, particularly amid what she described as insufficient sanctions pressure on Russia.

“Especially against specific perpetrators. Against doctors who refused assistance. Against commanders who gave orders,” she said.

She also highlighted the need for comprehensive support for former prisoners after their release, saying the first weeks following captivity are the most difficult.

“We hear from doctors, psychologists and support services that the first weeks after release are the most critical. This includes treatment, restoring documents and the first contact with family. All of this happens simultaneously. If people are left alone at that moment, it becomes very difficult to help them recover later,” the lawmaker said.

For this reason, she said, post-traumatic growth programmes based on a “veteran-to-veteran” principle should continue to be developed.

Kondratiuk added that state support for former prisoners should not be limited to financial assistance alone and said people need systematic care and long-term support, especially during the first months after returning from captivity.

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Previously, the Ombudsman’s Office documented 695 methods of abuse allegedly used by Russia against Ukrainian prisoners. These include physical abuse, beatings, psychological pressure and sexual violence.

According to the office, prisoners are strangled, attacked with dogs, tortured with electric shock devices and forced to stand motionless for up to 18 hours, with beatings used as punishment if they attempt to sit down.