Horror of ‘Kiev concentration camps’: Hundreds of kidnapped Ukrainians are being forced to dig trenches in villages around the city, a human rights group has warned
- It is alleged that Russia is forcing Ukrainian prisoners to dig trenches near Kyiv
- A human rights group says Putin’s army set up several concentration camps
- Detainees are reportedly being held blindfolded and handcuffed in industrial facilities
Russia has set up a series of concentration camps around Kyiv where captured Ukrainians are being forced to dig trenches, a human rights group claims.
Escaped prisoners and relatives of those still detained have revealed the horrors unfolding in the occupied villages just a few miles north of the capital.
About 500 people are brought in to build fortifications for the invading army and repair military equipment.
The prisoners are housed in at least five industrial units and basements, where troops blindfold them and tie their hands, and only feed them if they have food left.
Russia has been accused by the Ukrainian media initiative for human rights of setting up concentration camps around Kyiv and forcing Ukrainian prisoners to dig trenches (pictured: a Russian camp near Kyiv that was taken over by Ukrainians, although there is no evidence of this indicates that this particular one was dug up by them Ukrainians)
Prisoners are reportedly being held blindfolded and handcuffed in five industrial plants and basements and rarely fed (pictured: soldier of the People’s Militia of the Lugansk People’s Republic).
It was previously claimed that more than 20,000 civilians in Mariupol were shipped to labor camps in Russia. But no one knew of the existence of such facilities in Ukraine itself. Images show the extensive World War I-style trenches dug around Kyiv by the Russian army in recent weeks, which it is now feared were dug by the prisoners . Victims report being threatened with violence if they don’t do what they’re told, according to a report by Ukraine’s Media Initiative for Human Rights. ‘We were only fed when the orcs [guards] had something to eat,” said an escaped prisoner. “They gave us water from the heating system. Some of us had to dig trenches.”
The mother of another victim discovered that her son had been taken to Hostomel “to work”. An escaped hostage told her they were held there for two days and her son was left with injuries to his hand. He’s been missing for three weeks.
Troops have allegedly searched the phones of people in occupied territories to find excuses to accuse them of working for the Ukrainian military and arrest them.
It comes after claims that locals sent pictures and videos of Russian forces to friends in Kyiv, sparking counter-attacks.
A trench coat that was first Ukrainian, then used by the Russian army and now under the control of the Ukrainian army where heavy fighting has taken place in the devastated village of Moshchun
“The Russians came first because of our youngest son,” said Olena, another witness. “He had a photo of something on fire on his phone. They attacked him, threatened him with machine guns. Then my eldest came out and they turned to him. They saw a photo of the dam on his phone. He explained that he worked there, but they took him anyway.
‘ I said, ‘Where are you taking my son?’ They said, “Mother, we’ll give it back to you.”
They have not seen him since, having fled the village of Kozarovichi in fear for their youngest.
Testimonies from dozens of victims and relatives have been able to pinpoint where the camps are located. Sites include a plastic window factory, an abandoned radio equipment factory and a textile company in Dymer, 30 miles north of Kyiv. More are said to be ten miles south in the village of Sinyak, while others are being held at a glass factory in Hostomel — near the suburb of Irpin, retaken from Ukraine this week.
The invading army took mostly men as prisoners and put them to work from the first day of the invasion.
Taking civilians hostage is illegal under the Geneva Convention.
“Militaries of opposing parties are prohibited from detaining civilians without reason,” said Ukrainian lawyer Vitaliy Hekal. “Civilians are those who do not carry weapons and do not identify themselves as members of the opposing party’s armed forces.”
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