The Prosecutor General's Office is investigating systemic war crimes committed by the Russian Federation against prisoners of war and civilians.

Prosecutors carry out procedural supervision in a number of criminal proceedings regarding the ill-treatment of prisoners of war and civilians (parts 1, 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the results of the investigation:

​•​more than 11,000 persons were illegally detained in places of deprivation of liberty;

​•​more than 5,000 military personnel and more than 5,600 civilians have been recognized as victims;

​•​534 persons have been notified of suspicion;

​•​indictments have been sent to court against 365 persons;

​•​117 have already been convicted with guilty verdicts.

The investigations confirm that the crimes were systemic in nature, based on discrimination on national and linguistic grounds, and were planned and coordinated by representatives of the authorities of the aggressor country.

In the temporarily occupied territories and in the Russian Federation itself, the following have been identified:

​•​176 stationary places of deprivation of liberty;

​•​over 120 temporary (transit) detention points.

Detainees were systematically tortured: beaten, subjected to electric shocks, attacked by service dogs, strangled, hung, simulated executions, and subjected to sexual violence. Cases of mutilation, burns, and psychological abuse have been recorded.

During the investigation of crimes committed in places of deprivation of liberty, more than 45 officers of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation have been notified of suspicion. Among the suspects are the heads of Russian pre-trial detention centers and colonies (Kursk, Stary Oskol, Pakino), as well as the heads of institutions in the temporarily occupied territories (Sukhodolsky, Volnovakha colonies).

The mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the colony in Olenivka remains particularly horrific: on the night of July 28-29, 2022, an explosion killed at least 50 people, and another 140 were injured. The management of the colony has been notified of suspicion for leaving the wounded without medical assistance, which led to the death of 9 more Ukrainian soldiers.

These crimes are a gross violation of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and all norms of humanity. They have no statute of limitations.

Russia violates all norms of the Geneva Conventions, the UN Convention against Torture, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and international humanitarian law.

The investigation is ongoing - no evidence will be left without attention. Every executioner - from the direct perpetrator to the higher official who gave orders or covered up the crimes - will be held accountable under the law.

We remember. We honor. We work for justice.

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Today, July 28, Ukraine honors the memory of those who were executed, tortured, or died in captivity.