Throughout 2025, under the procedural guidance of the specialized unit of the Office of the Prosecutor General, 22 citizens of Ukraine – so-called employees of the correctional colony – were notified of suspicion of cruel treatment of prisoners of war and civilians (part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The suspects held pseudo-positions in the so-called Federal Treasury Institution "Correctional Colony No. 4 of the Main Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the DPR" (formerly "Kalinin Correctional Colony"), which was a place of detention for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Employees of the place of detention, contrary to the requirements of international humanitarian law, tortured prisoners of war and civilian Ukrainians – inflicting numerous blows with fists and special means to various parts of the bodies of the captives without cause.

Under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Main Investigative Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.