(KYIV, UKRAINE) – A new documentary investigation by The Kyiv Independent has revealed widespread and systematic torture of Ukrainian civilians held by Russian forces in occupied territories and inside Russia, highlighting what researchers describe as a long standing culture of abuse rooted in Soviet era practices.
The film, produced by the outlet’s War Crimes Investigations Unit, brings together testimony from civilians detained at different times and in different locations since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. Those interviewed include local officials, teachers and clergy members who were held for periods ranging from several months to more than two years.
Despite their varied backgrounds and circumstances, survivors describe strikingly similar patterns of violence, including beatings, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, threats against family members and prolonged confinement in degrading conditions. Many say torture began immediately after arrest and continued throughout their detention.
According to the investigation, detainees were often seized from their homes or workplaces without formal charges. They were blindfolded or hooded, transported to unknown locations and subjected to intensive interrogations. Survivors reported being struck with hands, boots and blunt objects, and in many cases being shocked with improvised electrical devices.
Several former detainees described being forced to run through corridors lined with guards who beat them as they passed. Others recalled being tied, suspended or placed in painful stress positions for hours. Many said they were denied adequate food, water and medical care.
The documentary also details the use of psychological pressure. Prisoners were threatened with harm to relatives, forced to listen to the abuse of others, or told that their children or spouses would be detained. In some cases, families were used directly to coerce confessions.
Investigators found that sexual violence and humiliation were also employed, particularly against male and female detainees in overcrowded facilities. Survivors said such abuse was used to break their dignity and instil fear.
Poor living conditions formed another element of the system. Former prisoners described being held in filthy cells without toilets or running water, forced to stand for hours in cold temperatures, and deprived of sleep. Some reported surviving on minimal rations, including salty food deliberately provided without water.
The investigation traces these practices to earlier conflicts and periods in Russian history. It draws parallels with abuses documented during the wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as during the Soviet era.
Human rights reports and rulings from European Court of Human Rights have previously found Russian security forces responsible for systematic torture in Chechnya. Similar methods, the documentary argues, are now being used in Ukraine.
Researchers also examined archival material from the Soviet Gulag system and documents from western Ukraine following the 1939 Soviet occupation. These records show that beatings, electric shocks and deprivation were long used by Soviet security services against perceived “enemies of the state”.
Historians interviewed for the film said such practices were passed down through successive institutions, from the NKVD to the KGB and later the FSB, creating continuity in methods and attitudes towards detainees.
The investigation concludes that torture is not merely a tool for extracting information but a means of intimidating civilian populations and suppressing resistance. Experts say it is designed to spread fear and discourage opposition in occupied areas.
Survivors interviewed for the documentary said the experience left lasting psychological and physical trauma. Many continue to struggle with anxiety, depression and chronic health problems after their release.
Human rights organisations have accused Russia of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.
Moscow denies allegations of systematic abuse and says its forces respect international law. However, independent investigations, survivor testimony and satellite evidence have repeatedly contradicted these claims.
The Kyiv Independent said the documentary was produced with the consent and cooperation of survivors, many of whom agreed to speak publicly for the first time. The outlet said it aimed to document the abuses carefully and preserve evidence for future accountability efforts.
The filmmakers stressed that international support remains essential to investigate war crimes and assist victims. They called on governments and institutions to strengthen legal action and humanitarian assistance for survivors.
