Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has called for increased international accountability for Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). He emphasized that the aggressor nation has turned torture into a state policy, employing it as a weapon in the ongoing conflict.
According to United Nations data, over 95% of Ukrainian military captives reportedly endure systematic torture, and by the end of 2025, 337 Ukrainian POWs had been deliberately and brutally executed by Russian forces, Lubinets stated.
He urged global leaders to intensify pressure on Russia, ensure thorough documentation of each crime, and hold perpetrators accountable. “This issue is critically important—the world cannot remain indifferent,” Lubinets asserted.
Russia has faced multiple accusations regarding the killings of Ukrainian POWs, torture, and extrajudicial executions, both in occupied territories and directly along the front lines. In recent months, Ukrainian intelligence services and international human rights organizations have reported an increase in such crimes, particularly in the most active combat zones, including Donetsk.
For instance, in late December, Russian troops executed two captured Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region.
Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has urged the international community to take action against Russia's systematic torture of Ukrainian POWs. He highlighted alarming statistics and called for accountability for these war crimes.