Russian occupiers’ torture chambers discovered in recently liberated Kharkiv Oblast – Ministry of Internal Affairs

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2022, 22:08

In recently liberated Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian police officers have discovered torture chambers that Russian forces had set up during their occupation of the Oblast.

Source: Yevhenii Yenin, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, in an interview with Radio NV; Andrii Niebytov, Head of Kyiv Oblast Police, on Telegram

Quote from Yenin: "We have discovered, with the help of local residents, torture chambers where [Ukrainian] and foreign citizens were kept in absolutely inhumane conditions in several settlements in Kharkiv Oblast.

[The foreign citizens that were kept in the torture chambers] were citizens of an Asian country. They were peaceful students from abroad who tried to leave for the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. They were stopped by Russian soldiers, illegally detained and tortured.

We are carefully documenting all available evidence of war crimes. After what happened in Bucha, we are perfectly aware of the fact that the most horrifying crimes might be uncovered only with time. We have already exhumed several bodies that not only had signs of having suffered a violent death, but also [signs] of torture. Some were missing ears, things like that. This is just the beginning."

Details: Yenin also said that a torture chamber has most recently been discovered in the city of Balakliia.

"Most recent information, which has yet to be confirmed, suggests that a similar torture chamber has been found on the territory of Vovchansk. People were tortured there, including using electrical shocks and other things," he added.

Yenin also said that Russian soldiers "who are still wandering the forests and other parts of Kharkiv Oblast" are being detained on the liberated territories of Kharkiv Oblast.

"[Beggars can’t be choosers.] People are forced to look for food and shelter. Local residents are actively helping us to detain the hapless Russians," he said.

Yenin also explained that 99% of collaborators – Ukrainian citizens who cooperated with the Russian occupiers – were former militsia officers [militsia was the name of the Ukrainian police prior to the 2015 reform - ed.] who were fired for various abuses such as alcoholism, trading in material evidence, bribery, and so on.

There are instances of police workers switching to the Russian side, too, but their number is negligible: no more than 20–30 people in Kharkiv Oblast.

Meanwhile, Andrii Niebytov, Head of the National Police, reported that in the Russian torture chamber in Balakliia the occupiers would put on masks and use live wires to torture peaceful civilians.

Evidence of such torture was documented by police officers and forensic experts from Kyiv Oblast who are inspecting Russian bases in Kharkiv Oblast.

"The torture chamber was equipped in a police branch; that was also where [the Russians] kept the prisoners and where they themselves lived. What’s really striking is that the occupiers hung up their kids’ drawings right next to the torture chambers," Niebytov said.

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