The latest (fortieth) periodic report by OHCHR on the treatment of prisoners of war and update on the human rights situation in Ukraine, 1 June — 31 August 2014

1 October, Geneva

I will begin by addressing the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs), before turning to our findings concerning attacks on energy infrastructure.

Since February 2022, my team has interviewed 377 Ukrainian POWs following their release from internment, and 434 Russian POWs interned in Ukraine.  

The report released today focuses on findings from interviews conducted over the past 18 months.

A key finding of the report is that Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian prisoners of war to widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment. 

We’ve interviewed 174 POWs over the past 18 months and almost every one (169 out of 174) provided detailed and consistent accounts of torture or severe ill-treatment. 

They described severe beatings, electric shocks, suffocation, tasering, prolonged stress positions, sleep deprivation, dog bites, mock executions, sensory deprivation, threats, degrading treatment, and humiliation. 

68% reported sexual violence.

Torture or ill-treatment occurred throughout all stages of captivity—during interrogation, admission procedures, daily routines, and under appalling internment conditions. 

These abuses were documented across multiple internment facilities in both occupied territory and the Russian Federation, showing similar patterns of mistreatment. 

Conditions of detention were typically poor, with most POWs reporting food shortages, lack of medical care, overcrowding, and poor hygienic conditions. 

We documented the deaths of 10 Ukrainian POWs due to torture, poor conditions, or inadequate medical care.

This abuse was not isolated. Several key elements point to a coordinated effort across multiple state entities. 

For example:

• The routine nature of the abuse, occurring on a daily or weekly basis and continuing throughout the period of internment, indicated knowledge of facility supervisors.
• Russian public figures have openly called for the inhumane treatment and execution of Ukrainian POWs, often using dehumanizing language in public discourse and state-owned media. 
• Safeguards meant to prevent torture—such as regular medical care, family communication, oversight, and access by independent monitors—were frequently absent or ineffective. 
• When external officials of the Russian Federation visited internment sites, torture temporarily ceased, and conditions improved, indicating those responsible for the facilities were aware of the mistreatment. 

These factors, combined with the adoption of broad amnesty laws for Russian servicepersons, have contributed to a climate of impunity for systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs.

Turning to Russian POWs, over half (104 out of 205) we interviewed since March 2023 reported torture or ill-treatment by Ukrainian authorities. 

In almost all cases, during the initial stages of captivity. 

Methods included severe beatings, threats of violence, and, in some cases, electric shocks. 

Ten Russian POWs reported sexual violence. 

The abuse occurred almost entirely in unofficial or transit locations and typically ended upon arrival at official internment facilities, where conditions generally meet international standards.

We continue to have unimpeded access to POW facilities in Ukraine, which has fostered an open dialogue with authorities and led to improvements.  

Let me stress - accountability for all abuses remains essential.

And ending torture is a legal and ethical imperative. 

Attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

The report also covers the Russian Federation’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and the resulting harm to civilians. 

The analysis is based on visits to seven thermal and hydroelectric power plants and substations, 28 community visits, and over 112 meetings with local authorities, energy companies, residents, and experts.

Between March and August 2024, the Russian Federation launched nine waves of large-scale, coordinated attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy generation, particularly thermal, hydroelectric, and heating plants. 

Many of the facilities were struck repeatedly, some until they were completely destroyed.

These attacks hit facilities in 20 regions, including Kyiv. 

Consequently, this year alone, 9 gigawatts of generation capacity have been destroyed. 

Seventy-three percent of thermal power units were rendered inoperative, leading to an energy deficit and reliance on imports. 

The cascading damage from these attacks has affected essential services like electricity, water, heating, sewage, public health, and education. 

Vulnerable populations—older persons, individuals with disabilities, children, and low-income households —are particularly affected. 

Last summer, many areas, including in Kyiv, experienced power outages of more than 12 hours daily.

Rolling blackouts are expected to resume this winter.  

Significant efforts are underway to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and mitigate the risks of a harsh winter. 

But the situation is exacerbated by ongoing attacks. 

Before we open up for questions, I would like to return to the civilian protection concerns Liz raised. 

Civilian casualty numbers for September are on track to be as high as in August.  

The deadly attack on a hospital in Sumy on Saturday, which killed 10 and injured more than 20, is a sobering reminder of how civilians continue to bear the brunt of this war in Ukraine.