Ivan Nakonechny's Account of Russian Captivity
Ukrainian soldier Ivan Nakonechny has provided a harrowing testimony about his time as a prisoner of war in Russian custody. He shared his story during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His account, which details the horrific conditions endured by captured Ukrainian soldiers, was later published on YouTube by Ukraine's 36th Separate Marine Brigade. Nakonechny spent three years and five months in captivity, and his description includes brutal details of the torture inflicted upon him and his fellow soldiers.
'I spent three years and five months in Russian captivity. To say the Russians adhere to the Geneva Conventions? No! They are inhuman sadists. The Russians tormented Ukrainian prisoners in every way, starting with food – everyone has seen how emaciated the returning prisoners of war are.' Ivan Nakonechny
Nakonechny also described cruel torture methods, including the use of electric shocks, and the conditions under which Ukrainian military personnel were held. 'We could only walk bent over, accompanied by dogs, with our eyes closed. Any exit from the cell meant a brutal beating,' he added.
The Story of Maksym Kolesnykov and the Need for Awareness
Nakonechny's testimony is echoed by that of another former prisoner of war, Maksym Kolesnykov, who spoke about his own situation at a peace summit in Switzerland. Kolesnykov stressed the vital importance of continuing to tell the stories of prisoners who remain in Russian jails. 'I understand this is my duty because my friends, my brothers-in-arms, remain in captivity. Recently there was an exchange, and people from my battalion were released. I saw people who looked like skeletons, they were completely exhausted,' he noted.
In his testimony, Nakonechny emphasized the critical need to speak about the defenders of Mariupol, who are now entering their fourth year in Russian prisons, and highlighted the extreme cruelty of their treatment. These accounts underscore the severity of the human rights situation within the context of the war and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The Geneva Conventions, which Russia is a signatory to, explicitly prohibit torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners of war.
The testimonies of Nakonechny and Kolesnykov draw urgent attention to the appalling conditions faced by Ukrainian soldiers in Russian detention and the necessity of raising global awareness of their suffering. Despite these powerful accounts, the human rights situation within the conflict remains dire and demands sustained international focus to ensure the protection of prisoners' rights and adherence to humanitarian norms. This issue requires continued discussion at the international level, as the global community must respond to such violations to prevent similar atrocities in the future.