Russian authorities have established a network of at least 29 prisons where Ukrainian citizens, both prisoners of war and civilians, are subjected to systematic torture, according to a joint investigation by The Guardian and 12 other major Western media outlets.
Evidence gathered over the past six months suggests that torture is used to extract false confessions and that the system is likely designed and controlled by the Russian Federation's top leadership.
According to The Guardian, 18 torture centers are located in Russia, with another 11 in regions of Ukraine occupied by Russia. The most common torture methods include electric shocks, simulated executions, beatings with hammers, repeated blows to the same parts of the body, and strangulation.
Detainees are subjected to humiliation: they are tied up with tape and used as "furniture." In addition, speaking Ukrainian is prohibited, food is severely restricted, and prisoners are subjected to psychological pressure, sometimes pushing them to commit suicide. Deaths have also been recorded in several institutions.
