Report Details Widespread Prisoner Abuse, Torture in Ukraine Conflict

Prisoner abuse, including torture and summary execution, is a daily occurrence on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, reflecting a brutal, ongoing conflict in which both sides are accused of human rights violations and war crimes, according to an Amnesty International report.

Russia-backed rebels walk in the destroyed building of Donetsk Airport just outside Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on April 2, 2015. OSCE monitors accompanied by pro-Russian rebels visited the ruins of Donetsk Airport and nearby areas to monitor the situation on the ground and discuss the observance of February's cease-fire. AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov

KYIV, Ukraine—Prisoner abuse, including torture and summary execution, is a daily occurrence on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, reflecting a brutal, ongoing conflict in which both sides are accused of human rights violations and war crimes, according to an Amnesty International report released this week.

The 36-page report, titled, “Breaking Bodies: Torture and Summary Killings in Eastern Ukraine,” was compiled after interviews with 33 released prisoners of war conducted from March to May this year; 32 of the former prisoners reported mistreatment. Researchers also analyzed X-rays, autopsies, hospital records, photographs, and social media posts.

The heavily damaged Donetsk Airport is seen in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2015. The Donetsk airport has been one of the most heavily fought over pieces of land between the Ukrainian Army and pro-Russian rebels. Andrew Burton/Getty Images