UN Commission Collects Evidence Of Russian Systematic Torture Against Ukrainian War Prisoners

Release of prisoners of the Ukraine war. (Twitter/@AndriyYermak)

JAKARTA - The UN investigating commission on Ukraine said on Friday it had gathered more evidence Russia had systematically tortured prisoners of Ukraine's war, documenting threats of rape to the use of electric shocks on genitals.

The three-member Investigative Commission said in a report the scale of the torture case may have been the most serious offense known as crimes against humanity, describing the incident as a "widespread and systematic violation".

"The statements of the victims reveal relentless brutal treatment that caused severe pain and suffering during the prolonged detention, by blatantly ignoring human dignity," commission chairman Erik M Wayise told reporters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The report has been submitted to the UN Human Rights Council consisting of 47 people in Geneva, who will decide in this session whether to renew the commission's mandate for another year.

Friday's report said some Ukrainian detainees were starving in Russian detention centers so they were forced to eat soap, worms and dog food remains, the report said.

A Ukrainian soldier was beaten so hard that his anus was bleeding and forced to jump repeatedly with injured legs, leading to the development of a gangrene (body tissue death due to blood circulation disorders or bacterial infection), he said. He has been further beaten for attempting to commit suicide in his cell in his own uniform, the report said, resulting in a broken leg and tail bone. He has been hospitalized 36 times since his release.

"What we found reinforces our previous findings (about torture) and makes them more solid," said MCise.

When asked what else it would take to formally determine crimes against humanity, he said it needed more evidence that torture was part of Russia's policy.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ambassador called for an extension of the commission's mandate, so that more evidence could be collected.

"We consider it important for the commission to continue investigating all alleged violations and crimes so that documented facts can be used as evidence in existing courts and future courts," said Yevheniia Filipenko.

The UN agency has previously documented several cases of mistreatment by Ukrainian forces against Russian prisoners. In response, Kyiv said it would investigate any violations.

It is known, Russia has always denied any torture or other form of abuse against prisoners of war. Russia's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new report.