New report on how Russia treats Ukrainian prisoners of war
Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russia are regularly and on a widespread scale subjected to violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. This is shown in a new international expert report by, among others, Mark Klamberg, professor of international law at Stockholm University.
On 25 September, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) published a report on how Russia treats Ukrainian prisoners of war. The report is written by three law professors from Sweden, France and the Czech Republic, including Mark Klamberg, professor of international law at Stockholm University.
On behalf of the OSCE, the three professors visited Ukraine in August 2025. They met with authorities and organizations and also spoke with former Ukrainian prisoners of war to gain their own picture of the situation. They also compiled information from other reports.
What is the most important message of your report?
“First, Russia must recognize that Ukrainian prisoners of war should be treated as such, instead of ‘detained as part of the special military operation.’ This is important because prisoners of war are otherwise treated as ordinary criminals and in some cases are held criminally liable simply because they fought for Ukraine,” says Mark Klamberg.
Systematic ill-treatment and torture
The authors of the report have identified numerous cases where wounded Ukrainian soldiers and those who surrendered have been arbitrarily killed on the battlefield and even in captivity. Furthermore, the report shows that Ukrainian prisoners of war are subjected to extensive and systematic ill-treatment and torture. Almost all have been forced to run gauntlets and have been beaten, in many cases with batons or shovels, and subjected to electric shocks as a “welcome” upon arrival at prisons and other detention sites. There are also accounts of dog attacks, forced nudity, death threats, mock executions, rape, placement in painful body positions and mental humiliation.
“We even heard testimonies about how Russian prisoners with infectious diseases are deliberately placed with Ukrainian prisoners of war, where they are forced to share shaving tools, ostensibly with the aim of spreading the diseases. After torture and forced confessions, show trials are conducted in which Ukrainian prisoners of war are filmed and then shown in Russian media,” Klamberg continues.
Human rights violations
The International Committee of the Red Cross’s access to prisoners is limited, and communication between prisoners of war and their families – which they are entitled to – is often not possible. The report states that these constitute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and that they may also amount to war crimes.
During its visit to Ukraine, the OSCE delegation met with Ukrainian authorities working with prisoners of war, ranging from the relevant unit of the armed forces to criminal investigators, prosecutors and Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as organizations active in this field.
“What was most urgent and significant was that we got to meet former Ukrainian prisoners of war who could talk about what they had experienced. It gave life to what we could otherwise only access through reports, written certificates and official documents,” says Klamberg.
The expert group received strong logistical support from ODIHR, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Klamberg continues.
“The Ukrainian authorities were very cooperative. Our efforts to interact with Russian authorities and representatives, on the other hand, were met with complete silence.”
Missile attacks during the stay in Kyiv
There was tension when, during their stay, Russia launched what was at the time (27 August 2025) the second-largest attack of the war: 629 drones and missiles, killing 18 people.
“I wasn’t worried about my own safety as we had good advance notice and a proper shelter under the hotel where we were staying. But it is very tough for the Ukrainians who have had to endure this for more than three years. During September, the attacks with missiles and drones against Ukraine increased even further. It is very difficult for Ukraine’s civilian population, but they still try to live as normal a life as possible,” says Klamberg.
We did have to go down to bomb shelters because of air raid alarms.
He has been to Ukraine twice before, both times in 2023 on behalf of USAID, the U.S. Federal Assistance Agency. On those occasions, the task was to provide support to the Ukrainian judiciary in the prosecution of war crimes before Ukrainian courts.
“I was able to contribute as I have, for almost two decades, mapped Swedish trials concerning such crimes (23 trials) and shared observations from our experience of handling such cases. At that time we were in Lviv, which is further away from the front. We did have to go down to bomb shelters because of air raid alarms, but the attacks were then far less frequent than those I have now experienced in Kyiv.”
Why were you asked for this assignment?
“Each member state of the OSCE can nominate experts from its own country to a roster that may be used when an OSCE mission becomes relevant. In July 2023, I was asked by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm to be on the list, along with five other Swedish experts in international law and this particular conflict. In June 2025, the Swedish OSCE delegation in Vienna asked me to participate in this specific mission, which I accepted,” says Klamberg.
How do you bring experiences from Ukraine into your research and teaching?
“Actual experience is always valuable in connection with teaching. It makes it easier to engage the students – although my experience is that the interest already exists. In terms of research, it is relevant in the sense that in my doctoral dissertation and later publications I have written about the collection and evaluation of evidence in relation to international crimes. During this mission, I have reflected on what we ourselves have been doing and may possibly write an academic text about it.”
Continued Engagement in Ukraine
When Klamberg was in Ukraine in 2023, he established contacts with universities and colleagues in Lviv and Kyiv. In 2024, he began a second assignment with USAID aimed at mapping case law concerning war crimes trials in Ukrainian courts, but that project had to be interrupted due to Donald Trump taking office as president. The project will restart in 2025 with the support of the Dutch government and the EU.
Klamberg has also recently applied for research funding from the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (Östersjöstiftelsen) for a project on accountability in relation to the war, which could enable further interaction with universities and academics in Ukraine.
How do you see taking on similar future assignments?
“I would be happy to do that. To the extent that it is possible to get out in the field, I take the opportunities that are given.”
Read the full report:
Read about Mark Klamberg's previous expert assignments in Ukraine (in Swedish)
Last updated: September 26, 2025
Source: Department of Law