Uncover the shocking truth behind the brutal torture tactics employed against captured soldiers and civilians in a war-torn nation. This chilling strategy, rooted in a dark historical leg...
One of the most horrifying and tragic aspects of the current war is the torture that Russian monsters in uniform inflict on nearly all soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who fall into captivity, as well as on civilians abducted in Ukraine. As stated the day before by Pablo de Greiff, a member of the independent international commission investigating Russian war crimes in Ukraine, the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war is a coordinated state policy of Russia. What lies behind this brutality? Why has the aggressor chosen this path?
In fact, the roots of the cruelty of the Russian regime reach far back in history, to the era of such bloody tyrants as Ivan the Terrible, Peter I, and their ilk. For decades, children in Russia were raised on the examples of these monsters, and they are still admired today. Later, during the years of Stalinism, mass repression and violence became integral tools of political power. Innocent people could be arrested and sent to camps, where sadists in uniform practiced horrific violence to obtain "confessions." This was not merely terror, but a deliberate policy aimed at eliminating dissent and instilling fear in society as a whole.
It seemed that all this had disappeared with the collapse of the Soviet Union, but that is not the case. For a brief period, the brutal practices in colonies and prisons subsided, taking on a more benign appearance, and then everything returned to its bloody "medieval" roots.
An important point here is that Putin, the current ruler of Russia, is a product of a system that raised people in the spirit of totalitarianism and violence. In his childhood and youth, he lived in the Soviet city of Leningrad, raised in a harsh and cruel atmosphere of St. Petersburg courtyards, where strength was always prioritized, and humanity and gentleness were regarded as betrayal.
In Putin's life, an important role was played by his employment in the KGB – a misanthropic secret service that employed violence and manipulation to protect the powerful. It was his service in political security that shaped Putin's views, his attitude towards life and power, which permeates all his policies.
It is also worth recalling that the Kremlin's main killer came to power not through democratic elections. His "election" to the presidency in 2000 was the result of a decision by President Yeltsin, an influential former functionary of the Communist Party, who never shed his communist habits. Allowing numerous abuses during his presidency, the former party bureaucrat sought a successor to avoid prosecution after his resignation. He found this successor in a "Chekist" nicknamed "Mole." This was far from a genuine choice of the people. And Putin surely understood this well. Learning this lesson, he practically began undermining democratic institutions from the very first steps of his rule, establishing tight control over the media, human rights organizations, and political opposition.
One of the main tools in this process has been violence. Violence as a means of suppressing opposition, violence as a means of control, violence as a means of eliminating threats. This violence – along with lies, of course – has become the foundation of political life in Russia during Putin's time. And it simply could not help but lay the groundwork for the country's aggressive foreign policy.
Systematic violence within the country has "naturally" morphed into aggressive behavior by Putin's supporters beyond its borders. When the master of the Kremlin unleashed a full-scale war against Ukraine, violence became part of the overall strategy of the Russian army. The whole world witnessed how the invaders shot at peaceful people, raped women, and abducted children... Engaging in such crimes in a foreign country, Russian security forces completely lose their inhibitions when Ukrainian servicemen fall into their hands.
According to Pablo de Greiff, some of the torture practices that the aforementioned international commission has evidence of included the intimidation of detainees, periodic beatings, deprivation of sleep, and prolonged periods of being naked. And, of course, this list includes the beloved methods of Russian security forces such as electric shocks and sexual violence... According to reports from human rights defenders, Putin and his team have recruited individuals with abnormal psychology and sadistic tendencies for their revived GULAG.
What do the Kremlin "strategists" hope to achieve with all this? Apparently, they believe that in this way they can break the will of the Ukrainian people and demoralize the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But they are, of course, mistaken: nothing but hatred for the occupiers can arise from the crimes of Putin's sadists in Ukrainians.
Having driven Russia under international sanctions, Putin and his team seek to demonstrate their independence and unaccountability to the outside world. It is important for them to show that their regime is not afraid of condemnation and is ready to go to any lengths to achieve political goals. And the end, in their view, justifies the means.
Brutal physical violence is also employed by dictator Putin against internal opposition, to achieve "democratic" legitimacy. But it is equally important for him, morally decayed and almost ostracized from everywhere, to present himself as the master of the situation beyond the country's borders. Violence against captured Ukrainian soldiers and civilians is not just a means of punishment, but a powerful tool of psychological warfare. Its goal is to create an image of an enemy that can be destroyed by any means.
By claiming to fight against "fascism" and "Nazism" in Ukraine, Putin and his team employ methods that actually resemble those very fascist practices. Moreover, they justify mass violence and torture in their propaganda statements. Furthermore, this propaganda resonates with a segment of Russian society that, being cut off from alternative sources of information, accepts the official narrative that supports cruelty and aggression.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand that the use of torture and violence against captured soldiers is not only a result of the Kremlin's strategic calculation, but also an embodiment of an ideology that turns human life into something secondary, where the end justifies any means.
The actions of the Russian ruling elite, including Putin, are not merely random acts of violence, but part of a broader political and cultural system that encourages arbitrary boundary redistribution, aggressive wars, and inhumane methods of conducting them.
The global community seems to have long been overdue in calling to order the brazen Kremlin bully and murderer. Unfortunately, international influence on the aggressor is very limited. Despite the imposition of sanctions, numerous statements on human rights protection, and other measures, Russia continues to ignore international condemnation.
Why is this so? Firstly, because Putin has support within the country, especially among the security forces, who receive from him the authority and resources to carry out brutal repressions. No one in the world seems to even think about how to undermine this support. A targeted comprehensive program and appropriate funding are needed here. This could pay off many times over.
Secondly, the Russian dictator knows that there will be protests in the West, but in reality, nothing will change. International bodies like the UN and the EU can condemn, but in the Kremlin, it seems, they believe that there are no real mechanisms to influence Russia at this stage. In any case, Russian officials behave very sluggishly.
But is everything really hopeless? For example, one possible way to influence the situation is to more actively use international justice tools, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). Why is it effectively not functioning?
Already, a number of Russian war criminals are facing judicial prosecution for crimes committed on Ukrainian territory. Proceedings in the ICC could be an important step in the fight against impunity. Even if Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of this court, this should not stop the global community from working to hold accountable those who commit crimes against humanity.
Judicial proceedings in the ICC can have significant consequences not only for punishing the guilty but also for strengthening international human rights standards and establishing justice.
The issue of the cruelty of the Russian authorities towards Ukrainian prisoners of war is not only a problem for Ukraine but for the entire global community. Under Putin's leadership, Russia continues down the path of violence, terror, and oppression. This is a dangerous trend that threatens not only neighboring states but the international order as a whole. That is why it is essential to utilize any legitimate opportunity to ensure that egregious violators of international law do not go unpunished.