‘Monstrous’: Horrific pictures show crisis world forgot
Horrific pictures have shed light on the “monstrous” conditions soldiers allegedly face in captivity.
Chilling photos of an emaciated Ukrainian prisoner of war has shed light on the “monstrous” conditions inflicted on soldiers held in Russian captivity as Putin’s war rages on.
Gorilyk Roman Vasilyevich, a former national guardsman, was one of 75 Ukrainians released in exchange for 75 Russian prisoners of war last month.
In photos shared by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Mr Vasilyevich appears severely frail and malnourished after spending two years in captivity.
In one photo, the 40-year-old stands with his hands on his ribs which are clearly visible through his pale skin.
In another, he resembles a skeleton as he bends down to touch his foot, with his spine protruding out of his back.
“These terrible photos show Ukrainian Gorilyk Roman Vasilyevich after two years in Russian captivity,” a statement shared alongside the photos on Telegram read.
“The condition of Roman and other Ukrainian prisoners of war evokes horror and associations with the darkest pages of human history – Nazi concentration death camps.
“Not allowing observers to see prisoners of war, in violation of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, is a conscious and purposeful policy of the Russian government. This is done specifically so that the International Red Cross cannot record how the Russian side treats prisoners of war.”
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said prisoners who have returned from Russian captivity look “horrifying”.
“The torture by starvation is monstrous, the beatings and violence are sophisticated,” he wrote in a statement on X alongside a photo of Mr Vasilyevich.
“In XXI century, #Russia shows what people went through in #Nazi concentration camps during the World War II. Why is this possible now? Because Russia has nullified international law and all the Conventions.”
“Horrific treatment”
It comes as a report from a United Nations Commission of inquiry on Ukraine in March described cases of “horrific treatment” of Ukrainian prisoners of war in several detention facilities in the Russian Federation.
“Victims’ accounts disclose relentless, brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention, with blatant disregard for human dignity. This has led to long-lasting physical and mental trauma,” the UN said in a statement.
One Ukrainian soldier claimed he was repeatedly subjected to torture and left with broken bones and broken teeth while detained by Russian authorities in the town of Donskoy, in Tula region.
“I lost any hope and the will to live,” the soldier told the inquiry.
Russia has previously denied torturing or mistreating captives.
Summit on Peace in Ukraine
Over two years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leaders from countries around the world will gather in Switzerland this weekend to try to work out a way towards a peace process for Ukraine. However Russia will not be in attendance.
The first Summit on Peace in Ukraine aims “is to inspire a future peace process and to develop practical elements as well as steps towards such a process”, the Swiss foreign ministry said.
“All states present at the summit should contribute their ideas and visions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Moscow said it had no interest in joining the meeting and so was not invited by Switzerland.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten will represent Australia at the summit, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other senior ministers are unable to attend.
Kyiv has stated it wants Russia to attend a second summit to receive an internationally agreed road map towards ending the conflict.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, said the “bad experience” of previous negotiation formats involving Moscow, prior to Russia’s invasion, meant that the end to the war needed to be built on a broad platform of support from the outset — and be rooted in international law.
“For the second summit, we will be working with all colleagues, with all countries who will be interested to be involved,” Yermak told European media organisations, via video link from Berlin.
“We are planning to prepare together the joint plan which will be supported by all these responsible countries. And we’re looking for the possibility, in the second summit, to invite a representative of Russia, and together present this joint plan.”
A perspective backed by “100 or more countries” drawn from every continent, rather than just Ukraine’s position, “will be a real plan which will be very difficult to dispute”, he added.
More Coverage
More than 160 countries and international organisations were invited by Switzerland to the two-day summit at the Burgenstock resort complex, with more than 90 confirmations received so far.
Of Russia’s allies, China is staying away, while Brazil and South Africa also seem likely to be absent.
– With AFP
Woman filmed falling to death on night out
A woman’s last moments have been captured in an eerie video showing her singing with her friend before falling to her death on a night out.
’Iceman’ lashes out over violence claims
Multiple family members have claimed more than a decade of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of Dutch wellness guru Wim Hof.
Kids injured in violent daycare attack
Terrified parents rushed to the daycare centre as news emerged a man had barged in on a violent rampage, injuring children.