The United Kingdom has voiced deep concern over reports of systematic ill-treatment of prisoners of war, civilian detainees, and vulnerable foreign nationals by Russian authorities during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, made the statement at a UN Arria meeting on implementing international humanitarian law.
UN reporting has documented instances of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture of civilian detainees by Russian authorities and armed forces in areas under their control. Concerns have also been raised that civilians may have been used as bargaining chips in exchanges, which could amount to hostage-taking.
Regarding prisoners of war, UN reporting indicates a systematic pattern of torture and ill-treatment among Ukrainian prisoners released from Russian captivity. The OHCHR reported that 96% of these released prisoners provided accounts of torture or ill-treatment, including stress positions, electric shocks, suffocation, and mock executions.
The UK also highlighted findings from the UN-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, which documented deceptive recruitment of foreign nationals to fight with Russian forces. Individuals from 17 countries were reportedly lured with promises of civilian work, transported to Russia, pressed into military contracts, and deployed to hazardous frontline duties, leading to mistreatment and lasting trauma.
The United Kingdom has called on Russia to cease these practices, permit international monitoring, facilitate exchanges and family contact, and fully comply with its international humanitarian and human rights law obligations.