Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are being held in detention centers across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, ranging from newly built prison wings to damp basements. Many are held without charge, facing accusations as trivial as speaking Ukrainian or simply being a young man in an occupied area. Others face charges of terrorism or resisting the "special military operation." Russia plans to expand this network, with a government document outlining the creation of 25 new prison colonies and six additional detention centers in occupied Ukraine by 2026.

A decree signed by President Putin in May allows the transfer of individuals from areas under martial law, which encompasses all occupied Ukrainian territories, to regions without such restrictions, including Russia. This facilitates the deportation of Ukrainians resisting occupation, potentially indefinitely, a practice documented by the Associated Press (AP).

The AP's investigation, based on interviews with former detainees, families of those missing, and government officials, along with satellite imagery and documents, reveals a widespread system of detention and abuse in violation of the Geneva Conventions. Many former prisoners reported experiencing or witnessing torture, including electric shocks, beatings, and simulated suffocation. The U.N. has documented summary executions and deaths due to torture.

Russia denies holding civilians, but evidence suggests they are used as bargaining chips in prisoner exchanges and potentially as human shields. The AP identified over 40 detention sites in Russia and Belarus, and more than 60 in occupied Ukraine. One such site, a new building at Prison Colony No. 2 in Russia's Rostov region, is believed to hold hundreds of Ukrainian civilians.

An illustration depicts Ukrainian civilians forced to dig under Russian guard. (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)

The arbitrary nature of the detentions is evident in cases like that of Artem Baranov and Yevhen Pryshliak, friends from Nova Kakhovka, detained after a late-night walk. Baranov, accused of espionage, despite the annexation occurring after his detention, smuggled a phone number to his family through a dessert delivery. Pryshliak's whereabouts remain unknown.

Hundreds of civilians are forced into labor, digging trenches and mass graves on the front lines. Olena Yahupova, a city administrator, was detained, tortured, and forced to dig trenches. She witnessed other civilians digging mass graves, and one man was shot for refusing. Satellite imagery confirms the existence of the trenches and graves.

Torture is routine, with methods including electric shocks, beatings, and simulated suffocation. Viktoriia Andrusha, a teacher, described enduring brutal physical and psychological torture, including being forced to memorize Russian patriotic songs. She was eventually released in a prisoner exchange, highlighting the practice of exchanging civilians as prisoners of war.

For families of the detained, the lack of information and the prolonged uncertainty are agonizing. Anna Vuiko's father, Roman, was detained over a year ago, and she has only received a single letter, leaving her with constant worry and unanswered questions.