Trial of Dmytro Matyushchenko
Kyiv's Pechersk District Court has ordered the pretrial detention of 27-year-old former prisoner of war Dmytro Matyushchenko. He is accused of collaborating with the administration of a penal colony in occupied Horlivka, brutally mistreating fellow Ukrainian POWs, and being involved in the murder of a comrade. The court ruled to hold him in custody for two months.
The hearing addressed charges brought against Matyushchenko after his return to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange in March 2025. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) alleges that Matyushchenko acted as a 'supervisor' or 'supply manager' in a barracks where POWs were held. A key episode in the case involves the death of Azov Regiment soldier Oleksandr Babak in the winter of 2023. While Russian occupiers claimed a blood clot caused his death, fellow prisoners assert that Babak died from daily physical punishments.
Testimony and POW Conditions
Maksym Dubovyk, an eyewitness to the abuse, testified in the case. Serhiy Babak, the victim's son, also described the cruelty inflicted on prisoners. The accused, Dmytro Matyushchenko, denies guilt and has offered to take a polygraph test to support his claims. The prosecutor requested the strictest pretrial measure—detention without the possibility of bail—which the judge granted.
According to data, since 2014, Russia has systematically tortured Ukrainian POWs, with 695 documented forms of torture and 406 verified prisoners subjected to such treatment. This highlights the severity of conditions faced by captives under Russian guards.
Dmytro Matyushchenko: 'We don't need to torture you—you'll torture yourselves because of scum like these Russian guards.'
He also shared his own experiences: 'You understand, everything breaks down, it's a system, people break. At that time, I was 22. Imagine how much I've already been through. People there lost their minds over food, over everything.'
Thus, the case of Dmytro Matyushchenko draws attention to serious human rights violations ongoing during the war and questions the ethics of individuals in a system where POWs' lives depend on their captors.
Cases like this are crucial for understanding the scale of human rights abuses during armed conflict. They highlight not only individual responsibility but also systemic issues that arise in wartime. The situation for POWs remains critical, and such trials may become an important step toward justice for victims.
As the case against Dmytro Matyushchenko unfolds, it sheds light on the broader issue of inhumane treatment faced by Ukrainian POWs. For a deeper understanding of the horrific conditions endured by soldiers in captivity, you can read about the experiences of a veteran from the 92nd Brigade, who described the brutal realities of imprisonment in Mordovia. His testimony reveals the psychological and physical torment that many have suffered.