Key facts
- The ICRC has been denied access to Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian detention for two years.
- Thousands of Ukrainian POWs are believed to be held in Russian detention centers.
- The Geneva Conventions mandate the ICRC to visit POWs to monitor their conditions.
- Russia denies torture or mistreatment of POWs.
- ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric stated that upholding humanity requires discussing detention conditions.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been denied access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian detention for two years, the organization told Reuters. Thousands of Ukrainian POWs are believed to be held in Russian detention centers, where UN investigators have gathered evidence of systematic torture.
The 1949 Geneva Conventions, intended to limit the barbarity of war, provide for the Swiss-based ICRC to visit prisoners of war to monitor their conditions, treatment, food, and medical care. Russia denies torture or other forms of maltreatment of POWs. The Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"We can confirm the lack of access to POWs in Russia since 2024," an ICRC spokesperson said. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric raised the issue on a trip to Russia last month, stating, "If you want to uphold humanity, you have to talk about detention and what happens in prison."
According to RFE/RL, ICRC Director General Pierre Krahenbuhl stated in February 2026 that Russia was not granting the organization "the level of access we would wish" to Ukrainian POWs, despite "repeated" requests. He noted that many Ukrainian soldiers released in prisoner exchanges have provided detailed accounts of abuse and torture in Russian captivity. As of February 2026, Ukrainian authorities stated approximately 7,000 Ukrainian military personnel were being held in Russian captivity, while nearly 4,000 Russian service members were in Ukrainian custody. The ICRC has visited 8,400 POWs since 2022, the majority in Ukraine, and expressed recognition for the cooperation of Ukrainian authorities. Krahenbuhl emphasized that the ICRC's only method of work is through dialogue and that they cannot force states to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.