Ukraine's ombudsman reveals how many Ukrainians died in Russian captivity
Photo: Ombudsman reveals number of Ukrainians who died in Russian captivity (Getty Images)
At least 375 Ukrainians have so far been confirmed to have died in Russian captivity, Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.
How many Ukrainians have died in captivity
According to the ombudsman, there are currently 375 names on a separate list. They are Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages who have been verified as people detained by Russia, including through the international verification mechanism of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Dmytro Lubinets stated that all of them had died, adding that Russia handed over the bodies of 375 Ukrainian citizens who were tortured.
The ombudsman stressed that Russia has created a system in which torture, humiliation and unlawful sentences have become instruments of war. In Ukraine, this practice has been called the Moscow Conventions.
"This is not a legal term; it is a definition of Russia’s practice of treating Ukrainians: under these 'conventions,' instead of protection — torture, instead of medical care — suffering, instead of justice — show trials, instead of returning home — years in captivity or death," he said.
Scale of torture
According to Lubinets, virtually all methods of torture outlined in the Istanbul Protocol are used against Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. Through joint efforts by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service and his office, 695 forms of torture and 860 cases of inadequate detention conditions have been documented.
"95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war have suffered torture, systematic torture in Russian prisons," the ombudsman emphasized.
According to him, these practices include beatings, the use of electric shocks, sexual violence, psychological abuse, attacks by dogs and mock executions.
Unlawful sentences
Regarding Russian show trials against prisoners, Lubinets said that as of May 2026, at least 2,442 Ukrainian citizens had been verified as facing criminal prosecution. Of these, 1,717 had already been sentenced.
It should be recalled that back in 2024, the Association of Families of Defenders of Azovstal, together with its partners, published the Moscow Conventions — an alternative version of the Geneva Conventions based on testimonies from former prisoners of war. Its articles describe torture, humiliation, violence and even killings.
Earlier, a special UN commission qualified mass and systematic torture as elements of Russia’s planned state policy.
