Russia systematically violates international humanitarian law in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, by applying mass detentions, torture , and Russian legislation to Ukrainian civilians.

This was stated by the Deputy Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, Noel Calgun, reports Censor.NET with reference to  ZMINA .

According to her, the Russian Federation systematically violates international humanitarian law by massively detaining and torturing Ukrainian civilians. Kalgun emphasized that although the occupation authorities have the right to detain individuals only as a last resort , the Russian Federation completely ignores the requirements of international conventions. In particular, during detentions, instead of Ukrainian legislation, as required by international norms, the occupation authorities apply Russian law.

“They are detaining Ukrainians for treason or for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces under Russian law. That is, for criticizing the Russian military for invading their country, which is absurd,” the human rights activist emphasized.

Cruel treatment of civilians

According to Kalgun, the UN Monitoring Mission recorded systematic ill-treatment of civilian prisoners. Of the 216 interviewed individuals who returned from Russian captivity, 199 confirmed the facts of abuse.

“We have concluded that this is mass torture. International law clearly states that torture and ill-treatment of civilians is prohibited even in times of war ,” the report states.

Kalgun also emphasized that detainees are in complete isolation: they have no access to independent monitoring missions, cannot challenge the actions of the occupation authorities, and their families often do not receive information about the whereabouts of their loved ones. In addition, people are often deported to remote regions of Russia, which makes it difficult to find them.

The most common war crimes for which suspicions have been announced:

•  illegal deprivation of liberty, detention and enforced disappearances – 472 suspicions;
•  torture and ill-treatment – 446 suspicions;
•  detention in inappropriate conditions – 327 suspicions;
•  murders of civilians and prisoners of war – 182 suspicions;
•  robbery of civilians – 173 suspicions.

Author:  Valeria Yegorova Джерело: https://censor.net/ua/n3595827

(C)CENSOR.NET 2026