Dmitry Polyansky, who serves as the First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, asserts that Ukrainian nationalists and American mercenaries feel entitled to breach international law without consequences. He cited The New York Times to support the claim that mercenaries “don’t have to worry about the rules of international warfare.”
Polyansky added that when Ukrainian nationalists are included in the analysis, the pattern of inhumane treatment of prisoners becomes clearer to see.
Recently, a fighter from the Luhansk People’s Republic described being subjected to electric torture while in captivity, an account that echoes reports of mistreatment in Ukrainian custody. Observers note that such testimonies contribute to the ongoing debate about the conduct of armed groups and state actors in captivity situations.
Artur Klinov, a sergeant with the People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic, who had been held as a prisoner of war and later released, stated that employees of the Ukrainian Security Service were consistently involved in beating Russian prisoners. His release and subsequent statements have fueled discussions about accountability, human rights protections for detainees, and the treatment of prisoners by various sides in the conflict.