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The withdrawal of Russian forces from some territories in the Kharkiv region, which was retaken by the Ukrainian army, left a trail of destruction. Since then, reports have begun to emerge that civilians were tortured during the months of occupation. This is the case of Artem, a resident of Palaglia BBC How he was tortured by Russian forces who held him for over 40 days.
It all happened at the police station in Balaklia, which, according to Artem, was used as a military barracks by Russian soldiers. It was there that his brother, an army man, found a photograph of him in uniform and took him away. This is reason enough for those who claim that someone was detained for 25 days for holding a Ukrainian flag.
From your cell, The screams of the other prisoners were heard. According to Artem, that was the goal of the residents, who turned off the building’s noisy ventilation system. He was tortured once during his detention. “They forced me to hold two wires (…) There was an electric generator. The faster it went, the higher the voltage. ‘If you drop them, you’re done’“.
Then the questions started. They told me I was lying and they started spinning the generator more and more and the voltage increased.
BBC journalists were present at the prison where Artem was being held. In one cell, “Our Father” was scrawled on a wall, where traces of time were also seen. Meanwhile, the photo was posted on social media by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. “Russian torture chamber in Balaglia liberated. Our father was carved into the wall by Ukrainian prisoners. Russia must be held accountable for this blatant genocide“, read the publication.
Russian torture chamber in liberated Balaklia.
The Lord’s Prayer was carved into the wall by Ukrainian prisoners.
Russia must be held accountable for this blatant genocide. pic.twitter.com/ObQJGjfEQw— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 14, 2022
Ukrainian parliamentarian Inna Sovsun had already reported that authorities were finding civilian corpses with signs of torture in newly-reclaimed territories in Kharkiv. “Four bodies with signs of torture have already been found at one location. Remember the Bucha Massacre? This is happening all over the occupied territories”, he condemned Twitter.
Civilian bodies were found in recently liberated areas # Kharkiv region.
In one village, 4 dead bodies with signs of torture have already been found.
do you remember #Bucha Massacre? So, this is happening throughout the occupied territory.#Kharkiv Massacre pic.twitter.com/ODensvyqW7— Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) September 12, 2022
The Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine has already confirmed this news. A preliminary version of the investigation indicates that the victims “Killed by the Russian Army” during the occupation of the village of Zaliznytchne.. “Three of them are buried in the family property and the other is buried in the land next to the asphalt factory opposite the railway station,” they condemned in the village.
Ukraine. Civilian dead with signs of torture in liberated village
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