A Grim Toll for Ukrainian Prisoners
Russia has returned the remains of 375 Ukrainian military personnel and civilians who had been listed as prisoners of war. Of these, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that 146 were held in captivity, while the status of the other 229 was verified through other sources, including testimonies from released detainees. The bodies bore evidence of torture, extreme malnutrition, and a lack of medical care. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are documenting these cases and forwarding the evidence to the International Criminal Court.
The Death of Journalist Victoria Roshchina
In a related tragedy, journalist Victoria Roshchina died on September 19, 2024, at Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 3 in Kizel, located in Russia’s Perm Krai region. News of her death emerged on October 10, 2024. Roshchina had been on lists for a potential prisoner exchange, and Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has reclassified the criminal case against her as a war crime involving intentional murder.
A former prisoner who goes by the call sign "Britva" and was released and returned to Ukraine in October 2025 stated that he was held in a cell next to Roshchina at the Taganrog detention facility. Bohdan Okhrimenko provided this account:
'Unfortunately, as part of repatriation efforts, Russia handed over 375 dead Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who were considered prisoners. Of these, 146 were confirmed by the ICRC as captives, and the imprisonment of 229 others was verified through various sources, including statements from released prisoners confirming they had been alive. Russia returned their bodies showing signs of torture, exhaustion, and denial of medical care.' Bohdan Okhrimenko
These events underscore the devastating human toll of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly regarding human rights abuses and violations of humanitarian norms. The documented instances of torture and withheld medical treatment for prisoners have sparked serious concern within the international community, likely leading to further investigations and legal proceedings. The death of Victoria Roshchina and its circumstances highlight the escalating risks faced by detainees and point to potential war crimes that demand a global response.