Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Accuses Russian Medical Personnel of Torturing Ukrainian Prisoners

Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk has called for urgent international action over allegations that Russian medical personnel participated in the torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian captivity.

Matviichuk, head of the Centre for Civil Liberties, an organisation that shared the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, said testimonies collected from former detainees indicated that some medical personnel allegedly denied prisoners essential healthcare, used electric shocks against detainees and participated in acts of torture.

The allegations were detailed in a report titled Anatomy of Torture, which examines testimonies concerning the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners and civilians detained in Russian custody.

The report has prompted renewed calls for international organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.

The claims have not been presented here as a final judicial finding against every individual or institution implicated. They are allegations documented by Ukrainian human rights organisations and require appropriate investigation and accountability procedures.

Nobel Laureate Calls for International Intervention

Matviichuk has urged the international community to respond to allegations of torture involving medical personnel, arguing that the reported conduct represents a serious violation of human rights and medical ethics.

According to a report published by Linda Ikeji’s Blog on October 12, 2026, the human rights lawyer said testimonies gathered from former detainees raised concerns about the involvement of medical personnel in the abuse of people held in Russian captivity.

The Centre for Civil Liberties has worked with other Ukrainian organisations to document alleged abuses experienced by prisoners of war and civilians detained during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Matviichuk said the accounts collected by investigators suggested that the denial of medical care and the alleged participation of medical workers in torture were not isolated incidents.

She called for international pressure to protect detainees and prevent further abuses.

The allegations have also raised questions about the responsibilities of healthcare professionals working in detention facilities, particularly during armed conflicts when prisoners may be entirely dependent on their captors for medical treatment.

Report Details Allegations Against Medical Personnel

The report, Anatomy of Torture: Testimonies on Torture and Ill-Treatment by Medical Personnel in Russian Captivity, was produced by experts associated with the Centre for Civil Liberties with support from the United Kingdom Government.

According to the findings described by the organisations involved, former detainees reported instances in which medical personnel allegedly denied treatment, witnessed abuse or directly participated in the mistreatment of prisoners.

Some testimonies described healthcare workers being present while detainees were subjected to electric shocks and beatings.

Others alleged that medical personnel provided treatment that enabled prisoners to regain consciousness so that interrogations or torture could continue.

These accounts raise serious concerns because healthcare professionals are expected to protect life, relieve suffering and provide treatment without participating in punishment or abuse.

The report’s findings are based on testimonies and other information gathered by the organisations. The individual allegations would need to be examined through appropriate investigative and judicial procedures to establish responsibility in specific cases.

Former Prisoner Allegedly Had Russian Slogan Carved Into His Skin

One of the most disturbing accounts cited by Matviichuk concerned a Ukrainian soldier who reportedly discovered that the words “Glory to Russia” had been carved into his skin after undergoing surgery while in captivity.

According to the testimony described in the report, the soldier had been operated on by a Russian medical professional while being held prisoner.

After regaining consciousness, he allegedly discovered that the slogan had been marked on his body using a surgical instrument.

Matviichuk said the man was subsequently returned to Ukraine through a prisoner exchange and was undergoing a painful process to remove the inscription.

The allegation has drawn attention to the vulnerability of prisoners who are dependent on their captors for medical care and may be unable to protect themselves from abuse.

The reported incident also raises questions about whether medical procedures were allegedly used for purposes unrelated to treatment.

The account remains a testimony cited by the human rights organisation and should be distinguished from a finding made by a court.

Allegations Against a Medical Worker Known as ‘Doctor Evil’

The report also described testimonies concerning a medical worker operating in a Russian detention facility in the Republic of Mordovia.

According to the accounts, some detainees referred to the individual as “Doctor Evil” because of his alleged conduct towards prisoners.

Former detainees reportedly accused the medical worker of striking prisoners, using a taser against them and participating in acts of abuse.

One witness described an alleged incident in which the medical worker asked about a prisoner’s symptoms before striking the prisoner’s hand with a taser and subsequently administering a pill.

Other accounts alleged that the individual participated in torture or ensured that detainees remained alive during abuse.

Ukrainian human rights group the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reportedly identified the individual as Ilya Sorokin.

According to the report, Ukraine’s Security Service charged Sorokin in absentia in December 2025.

An in-absentia charge means proceedings or accusations have been brought without the accused being physically present. It does not, by itself, establish guilt.

The allegations against the individual therefore require assessment through the applicable legal process.

Human Rights Organisations Seek WHO Intervention

More than 60 Ukrainian organisations have called on the World Health Organisation to intervene over allegations of torture and denial of medical care involving Ukrainian detainees in Russian captivity.

The appeal sought to draw international attention to the alleged violations and encourage measures to protect prisoners of war and civilians held in detention.

According to an October 7 report by Inter Press Service, the organisations called on the WHO to use its expertise and international standing to address violations of the right to health and uphold medical ethics during armed conflict.

The appeal argued that the denial of medical care and alleged participation of healthcare workers in torture required more than expressions of concern.

The organisations want international institutions to take concrete steps to help prevent further abuse and improve access to medical treatment for detainees.

The WHO declined to comment when contacted by Metro, according to the report published by Linda Ikeji’s Blog.

The appeal highlights the role international health organisations can play in drawing attention to medical ethics and access to healthcare in conflict situations, although their authority and ability to access detention facilities may be limited by the circumstances.

Calls for the International Criminal Court to Investigate

Matviichuk has also called on the International Criminal Court in The Hague to examine allegations relating to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners.

She said submissions concerning the alleged abuses had been sent to the court and urged it to open a case based on alleged crimes against humanity.

The ICC investigates and prosecutes individuals for crimes within its jurisdiction, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, subject to the applicable legal requirements.

However, the submission of information or allegations to the court does not automatically mean that an investigation or prosecution will follow.

Any decision would depend on the court’s jurisdiction, the evidence available and the applicable legal framework.

Matviichuk also called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to be given full access to civilians and prisoners of war who are being held unlawfully, as alleged by the organisations.

She proposed the creation of a special medical commission to seek access to detainees in Russia and examine their conditions.

Access to detainees is an important humanitarian concern because independent monitoring can help establish their condition, assess access to treatment and document possible violations.

Medical Ethics Under Scrutiny

The allegations have prompted wider questions about the responsibilities of medical professionals during armed conflict.

Healthcare workers have ethical obligations to treat patients according to medical need and to avoid participating in torture, cruel treatment or punishment.

The World Medical Association and other professional bodies have repeatedly emphasised that medical professionals must not participate in torture or provide medical knowledge for the purpose of facilitating abuse.

In detention settings, medical independence is especially important because prisoners may have little control over their access to treatment.

If medical personnel knowingly participate in torture, conceal evidence of abuse or deny necessary treatment as a means of punishment, such conduct raises serious ethical and legal concerns.

At the same time, allegations against individual professionals must be investigated carefully, with conclusions based on reliable evidence rather than assumptions about an entire profession or nationality.

The testimonies cited in Anatomy of Torture have renewed calls for safeguards to protect detainees and ensure that medical care remains focused on preserving life and reducing suffering.

Ukraine’s Wider Concerns Over the Treatment of Prisoners

The allegations concerning medical personnel form part of broader Ukrainian concerns about the treatment of civilians and prisoners of war held in Russian custody.

In August 2026, Reuters reported that former Ukrainian prisoners and officials had described alleged torture, sexual abuse, electric shocks, beatings and denial of medical care in Russian detention facilities.

The report also cited United Nations human rights officials who described torture by Russian authorities as widespread and systematic, while noting Russia’s rejection of allegations of systematic abuse and its counter-accusations against Ukraine.

The wider reports underline the importance of independent documentation and accountability mechanisms in armed conflicts.

Under international humanitarian law, prisoners of war and other protected detainees must be treated humanely. Torture and cruel treatment are prohibited, and detainees who need medical attention must receive appropriate care.

Allegations of violations by any party to a conflict should be assessed on the evidence, with responsibility determined through credible investigations and lawful proceedings.

Russia Has Not Been Shown to Have Responded to These Specific Allegations

The report published by Linda Ikeji’s Blog did not include a direct Russian government response to the specific allegations about medical personnel detailed in Anatomy of Torture.

The absence of a response in the report should not be interpreted as confirmation of the allegations.

The claims have been advanced by Ukrainian human rights organisations and are based on testimonies and other information they say they have collected. Independent access to detainees, examination of supporting evidence and investigations by competent authorities would be important in establishing the facts and determining individual responsibility.

The matter also raises practical challenges because some of the people identified in the allegations are reportedly in Russia, where Ukrainian authorities say they cannot physically arrest them.

Such circumstances can complicate investigations and the enforcement of any eventual legal decisions.

Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Centre for Civil Liberties, has called for urgent international action following allegations that Russian medical personnel participated in the torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians.

The report Anatomy of Torture contains testimonies alleging denial of medical treatment, the use of electric shocks, direct participation in abuse and the carving of a pro-Russian slogan into a Ukrainian prisoner’s skin.

Ukrainian human rights organisations have urged the World Health Organisation to intervene, while Matviichuk has called for further action by the International Criminal Court and improved access for humanitarian organisations.

The allegations highlight the importance of protecting detainees, upholding medical ethics and ensuring that alleged violations of international humanitarian law are independently investigated.

Any findings of individual criminal responsibility must ultimately be established through appropriate legal procedures.

Source: Linda Ikeji’s Blog, with additional background from Inter Press Service and Reuters.

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