Danish human rights activists: 17,000 Ukrainian prisoners from TOT deported to Russia

This was stated by DIGNITY Executive Director Rasmus Grue Christensen during a presentation at Ukrinform of the advocacy report “Deportation to Hell.”

“The illegal deportation of 17,000 Ukrainians from the occupied territories to the Russian Federation has been documented, along with inhumane transport conditions, violence, isolation from families, and serious violations of human dignity,” said Christensen.

He noted that cases of torture, intimidation, deportation, and the destruction of the very concept of human dignity are not sporadic violations, but systemic components of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territories.

According to the Executive Director of DIGNITY, the report that human rights defenders are presenting today focuses on a group that has received little public attention so far. This refers to Ukrainian prisoners who were serving sentences in Ukrainian prisons and found themselves under Russian occupation. They were not prisoners of war—they are civilians, and they remain so. Accordingly, as civilians, they are protected by international humanitarian law.

“The fact that they were prisoners in no way diminishes this protection. In other words, the fact that they were convicted by Ukraine of a specific crime does not give the Russians the right to treat them that way. If a person is deprived of their liberty, it does not mean they are deprived of their dignity. This is one of the key messages of this report,” Christensen emphasized.

He added that the prohibition against torture, unlawful deportation, and inhuman treatment applies to everyone, and that impunity creates an opportunity to violate these rules in the future.

The Executive Director of DIGNITY stressed that holding Russia accountable for crimes committed in Ukraine is a crucial component of achieving a just peace. In this context, he noted that “occupied territories must not become black holes in terms of accountability.”

“We want to ensure that the experiences of Ukrainian prisoners, which are often overlooked, are included in the process of achieving justice. And today we are effectively cementing this commitment. We will support those who have suffered in their pursuit of justice. Even under the most difficult conditions, the law and human dignity must be protected,” Christensen concluded.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Russian Federation tortured 406 Ukrainian citizens who had confirmed prisoner-of-war status.