A new investigation by BBC Eye and BBC News Ukraine has identified four men accused by Ukrainian survivors of committing torture, rape and other abuses in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, as victims continue seeking justice for alleged war crimes.
The investigation focuses on claims of systematic abuse inside detention facilities and occupied communities, where prosecutors say conflict-related sexual violence has affected victims ranging from young children to elderly civilians.
Despite numerous criminal investigations, many of the alleged perpetrators remain outside the reach of Ukrainian authorities.
Former Prisoner Recounts Abuse Inside Notorious Izolyatsia Detention Facility
One of the survivors featured in the investigation is Liudmyla Huseinova, who was detained in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region in 2019 after being accused of espionage. She said she had actually been providing food to Ukrainian soldiers and assisting children at an orphanage.
Huseinova was transferred to the Izolyatsia prison, a detention facility that has become synonymous with allegations of torture and abuse. She remained imprisoned there until being released during a prisoner exchange in 2022.
She identified one of the men involved in her arrest as Yurii Temerbek, a former Ukrainian traffic police officer who later joined pro-Russian forces. According to her account, Temerbek and another man known as Koval allegedly subjected her to humiliation before she says Koval sexually assaulted her.
Survivor Says Abuse Included Forced Consumption of Contaminated Food
Huseinova also described another incident involving a prison guard identified only as Yermak.
After rapidly losing weight in custody, she said the guard accused her of refusing food and forced her to consume uncooked food mixed with dirt and rubbish while under camera surveillance.
She said the experience left lasting psychological scars and permanently altered her relationship with food.
Former Detainees Describe Electric Shock Torture
Another former prisoner, Ruslan Sheiter, said he was imprisoned at Izolyatsia after being accused of providing intelligence to the Ukrainian military.
According to Sheiter, detainees were repeatedly taken to underground interrogation rooms where investigators allegedly used a Soviet-era field telephone device, commonly known as a “Tapik,” to administer electric shocks.
He alleged prisoners were restrained while electrodes were attached to sensitive parts of their bodies before electricity was applied whenever interrogators were dissatisfied with their responses.
Kherson Sailor Details Alleged Abuse in Occupied Territory
Oleksii Sivak, a sailor from Kherson, said he was arrested in 2022 after distributing banners and leaflets opposing the Russian occupation.
He alleged that he was tortured and sexually assaulted while held inside a former police building.
Former detainees identified the facility’s commander as Andrey Spivak, a former Russian police officer from Omsk whom prisoners reportedly nicknamed “Angry.”
Witnesses accused Spivak of enforcing harsh conditions, including forcing detainees to sing the Russian national anthem and chant slogans praising Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
Pregnant Woman Describes Assault During Occupation
The investigation also includes testimony from a woman identified only as Irena to protect her identity.
She said she was four months pregnant when Russian soldiers entered her village. According to her account, armed troops forced entry into her home, where she, her son and his 17-year-old girlfriend were present.
Irena alleged that both she and the teenager were stripped and raped despite her pregnancy and the girl’s age.
Ukrainian prosecutors have accused two Russian soldiers of carrying out sexual assaults in the area, including sniper Vadim Shakhmatov, whom Irena said she immediately recognised as one of the attackers.
Investigation Tracks Suspects Through Public Records and Social Media
BBC investigators said they were able to identify several of the accused men through open-source evidence, including photographs and social media activity.
Images reviewed during the investigation reportedly show Spivak attending events in Omsk and enjoying recreational activities after returning to Russia, while Shakhmatov is said to continue living with his family in southwestern Russia.
None of the four men identified in the investigation have been brought before a Ukrainian court.
Prosecutors Continue Pursuing War Crime Cases
Ukrainian prosecutors say they have opened investigations against dozens of individuals accused of abuse inside Russian-controlled detention centres.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has documented more than 400 cases involving conflict-related sexual violence against civilians.
Authorities say 85 individuals have been formally charged, while 30 have received prison sentences, most of them handed down in absentia because the suspects remain outside Ukrainian jurisdiction.
According to prosecutor Anina Sosonska, who oversees investigations into conflict-related sexual violence, the youngest documented victim was four years old, while the oldest was 82.
Survivors Say Public Identification Is Part of Justice
For many survivors, exposing the identities of those they accuse has become an important part of their pursuit of justice, particularly while prosecutions remain difficult.
Huseinova said accountability is about legal recognition rather than revenge. Even if those she accuses are never arrested, she believes publicly identifying them ensures their alleged actions are recorded and cannot be forgotten.
She said she hopes those responsible will ultimately face justice through the courts, insisting that recognition of the crimes committed against victims is an essential step toward accountability.
