The EU has imposed sanctions against those involved in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians

The European Union has imposed sanctions on 15 individuals and one Russian penitentiary institution involved in torture, cruel and inhuman treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians.

This was reported by the press service of the Council of the European Union.

The restrictive measures were introduced within the framework of the EU Global Sanctions Regime for Human Rights Violations. The sanctions include individuals considered responsible for serious human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Who is subject to EU sanctions

Among the individuals included in the sanctions list is Dmitry Neelov, First Deputy Head of the colony in Olenivka, Donetsk region.

According to the Council of the EU, he is directly involved in the cruel treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, as well as in the events of July 28-29, 2022, when Ukrainian prisoners died en masse in Olenivka. In particular, it concerns the delay in the evacuation of the seriously wounded and the use of torture and humiliation practices.

Sanctions have also been imposed against other representatives of the leadership of the colony in Olenivka.

Oleksiy Khavetskyi, the head of the guard of colony No. 7 in Pankino, was included in the list. The EU considers him to be the organizer of systematic torture and abuse of Ukrainian prisoners.

Restrictive measures have also been applied to FSB officer Yan Zanevskyi. He is linked to the arbitrary deprivation of liberty and torture of Ukrainian civilians in the Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia regions during the Russian occupation.

Sanctions on the Taganrog pre-trial detention center

The European Union has also imposed sanctions on the Taganrog pre-trial detention center No. 2.

According to the Council of the EU, Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in this facility. It was in the Taganrog pre-trial detention center that Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchina was held, who died in Russian captivity.

Seven more people were sanctioned for their involvement in the abuse of Ukrainian prisoners on Russian territory.

Among them are the head of colony No. 10 in Udarnoye, Oleksandr Hnutov, and the head of the institution’s medical service, Galyna Mokshanova.

Hundreds of Ukrainian citizens were held in this colony. Ukrainians released from captivity reported systematic torture, staged executions, cruel treatment, and denial of necessary medical care.

EU demands access to prisoners for independent observers

The EU Council stressed that the European Union strongly condemns the torture, inhuman treatment, and murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians illegally held by Russia.

The EU called for unhindered access for independent observers to all detainees, including representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The European Union also stressed the need to hold those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law accountable.