Civilians tortured in Bohdanivka: two Russian soldiers reported on suspicion

During the occupation of a village in the Kyiv region, people were kept in basements, beaten and threatened with weapons

Under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, two servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces were reported to be suspected of cruel treatment of civilians and violation of the laws and customs of war.

According to the investigation, in March 2022, during the occupation of the village of Bohdanivka, Brovary district, the Russian military completely controlled the settlement, conducted raids on the homes of local residents, intimidated people and threatened them with weapons.

Illegally detained and tortured civilians

One of the suspects is a tank commander of a unit of the 90th Tank Division of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, acting together with another serviceman and unidentified persons, they illegally detained at least three civilian men.

The victims were held in the basement and in specially equipped places without light, heat, food and medical care. People were kept with their hands tied and under constant threats.

During interrogations, the Russian military used physical violence – they beat the men with their hands, feet and gun butts, trying to get information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

One of the victims was even held in a pit covered with a metal lid.

One of the victims disappeared

According to the prosecutor’s office, after another round of torture, one of the civilians – a pensioner from the Ministry of Internal Affairs – disappeared. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Other victims managed to escape.

War crimes and violations of international law

The prosecutor’s office emphasizes that such actions are a gross violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions.

According to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, these crimes are classified as war crimes.

Currently, the pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying all those involved in the crimes and continue to document the facts of the war crimes of the aggressor state.