Black Map: Geography of Russian Torture Sites for Ukrainian Prisoners

A Brother's Search

Artem Yevdokimenko has twice faced complete uncertainty about his brother Oleksandr over two years. Mobilized in fall 2024, Oleksandr served in the 48th Separate Assault Battalion. Contact was lost in winter 2024; in January 2025, military enlistment officials declared him missing. Artem later found a video showing that after a grenade was thrown into their dugout, Oleksandr, despite shrapnel wounds, helped a comrade escape, and both were captured.

Artem recognized his brother in a Telegram photo with bandaged hands. After a letter from Donetsk pre-trial detention center and verifying questions, Oleksandr was sentenced to 14 years for "terrorism." He was transferred to Verkhneuralsk prison in Chelyabinsk Oblast – one of seven "krytka" prisons in Russia where inmates are held in cells under severe conditions. Family attempts to contact him failed; an attorney was denied access. Artem recently learned his brother is alive via a court hearing (video only, no audio).

Taganrog: Deadly 'Reception'

Pre-trial detention center No. 2 in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, is notorious. At least 16 Ukrainian prisoners have died from beatings and lack of medical care. Torture began upon arrival: electric shocks, rubber batons, forced stretching, and forced fights. In 70% of cases, torture had no investigative purpose – it was for sadistic satisfaction. Civilians, including journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, were held there.

Kizel: Transfer to Horror

In September 2024, Roshchyna was moved to Kizel detention center in Perm Krai, where she died days later. Prisoner Danylo reported being beaten for hours, women forcibly shaved bald. One civilian prisoner was beaten to death during a morning roll call.

Mordovia: 'Little Guantanamo'

Corrective colony No. 10 in Udarny, Mordovia – a special regime colony – housed Ukrainian prisoners from 2023. At least three died from severe beatings; many attempted suicide. Medic Ilya Sorokin, nicknamed "Dr. Evil," used electric shocks for those seeking medical aid. Punishments were given for lowering propaganda radio volume. Before official inspections, conditions temporarily improved, then violence resumed.

Vyazma: Tuberculosis as Death Sentence

In pre-trial detention center No. 2 in Vyazma, Smolensk Oblast, tuberculosis was the main cause of death. At least five prisoners died due to lack of treatment. Bodies were abused post-mortem. Snipers, scouts, artillerymen, Azov members, and those with patriotic tattoos faced the worst treatment. Torture included hot irons, vices, lighters, hammers, and tennis rackets. Chief Aleksey Zakharov personally beat prisoners with a wooden stick.

Kamyshin: 'Don't Scratch'

In pre-trial detention center No. 2 in Kamyshin, Volgograd Oblast, medical staff told prisoners with swollen legs from beatings to "exercise more" and to "not scratch" wounds. Guards often beat not only the injured but all cellmates. At least seven died. Azov fighters were systematically sent there, where staff were authorized to use any torture methods.

The widespread network of torture sites indicates systematic abuse of Ukrainian prisoners, though the full scale remains unknown, especially from locations like Verkhneuralsk from which no prisoner has yet been released.