«Be ruthless.
Show no mercy.»
At the start of the full-scale war, Russia introduced a system for handling Ukrainian prisoners of war that effectively legalized torture.
According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, Lieutenant General Igor Potapenko informed officers of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) about the introduction of a “new system of work” with prisoners.
These instructions effectively legalized violence. It was explicitly stated that restrictions on the use of force were lifted.
Body cameras, which were mandatory in other institutions within the Russian penitentiary system, were ordered to be removed. A rotation system was introduced for FSIN officers guarding prisoners: formed units were to remain in the same colony for no longer than one month.
Released prisoners of war have testified to systematic torture. Guards used electric shock devices on prisoners’ genitals, beat them, denied medical care, and deliberately allowed their condition to deteriorate to the point of amputations.
This information was confirmed by two former members of FSIN special units and a prison medical worker. After giving testimony, they were placed under the witness protection program of the International Criminal Court.
The Russian authorities refused to comment.
Source: The Wall Street Journal