Russian Orthodox Clergy Bless Prison Where Ukrainians Are Tortured in Berdyansk

Controversial Ceremony at Berdyansk Correctional Facility No. 2

According to Главком: In the temporarily occupied city of Berdyansk, priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-who are aligned with the Berdyansk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church-have conducted a blessing ceremony at Correctional Facility No. 2. This prison was previously known as Prymorska Correctional Facility No. 145 and Berdyansk Correctional Facility No. 77. According to Ukrainian human rights advocates, journalists, and former detainees, the site has been used to hold and torture both Ukrainian military personnel and civilians.

The ceremony was led by Archpriest Vitaliy Zhytko and Priest Yaroslav Popov. During his address, Zhytko stated:

“May this consecrated place become a symbol of justice for you and a pillar of support in your difficult work. Today, we not only sprinkled the walls with holy water but also called upon God’s grace to aid everyone who works here.”

As part of the ritual, the administrative building, staff offices, personnel, and facility leadership were all sprinkled with holy water.

Detention Conditions and Human Rights Concerns

Since the occupation of Berdyansk began, this prison has been used to hold Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages. Conditions inside are alarming: detainees are kept in isolation for months, denied outdoor exercise and access to showers. Cells measuring just a few square meters hold four to five people at a time. Loud music is played constantly to intensify psychological pressure. There is reportedly a specific unnumbered cell from which screams and sounds of torture can be heard. Prisoners are beaten, subjected to electric shocks, and forced to wear gas masks during interrogations.

Yaroslav Popov, who heads the prison department within the Berdyansk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, also serves as an assistant to the head of the occupation's Federal Penitentiary Service for work with believers. Before the occupation, he served in Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) parishes in the Berdyansk district and was a prison chaplain.

Independent international organizations, including a UN commission, have documented Russia's systematic use of torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war and continue to uncover new evidence of abuse against Ukrainian civilians and captives. In light of these circumstances, the blessing of Correctional Facility No. 2 has sparked outrage among human rights defenders and underscores the severe abuses faced by Ukrainian military and civilian detainees under occupation.

This event highlights the complex situation in Ukraine during the war, where even religious rituals can be co-opted to legitimize brutal practices such as torture and detention. The blessing of the prison points to possible collaboration between religious institutions and the occupation authorities, raising serious ethical and human rights concerns. As abuses persist, it remains critical for the international community to continue documenting and exposing human rights violations in Ukraine.

The alarming conditions reported in Berdyansk Correctional Facility No. 2 are part of a broader pattern of human rights violations against Ukrainian prisoners. As documented by Ukrainian authorities, there are numerous methods of torture employed by Russian forces that have been meticulously cataloged. To gain a deeper understanding of these practices and the extent of the abuse, readers can explore the detailed account of torture techniques used by Russia against prisoners.