A former prisoner of the occupation detention center in Donetsk was charged with cruelty to civilians.

The former head of the illegally created occupation penal institution in Donetsk was notified in absentia of suspicion of war crimes against the civilian population.

The Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported this.

According to investigators, in December 2022, a man who previously worked at the Donetsk pretrial detention center took over the facility during the Russian occupation. In this position, investigators allege, he ensured that illegally detained civilians were held in inhumane conditions.

Law enforcement officials established that at least three women and two men, aged between 19 and 67, were detained due to their pro-Ukrainian stance and fabricated charges.

The prisoners were held in cells with constant dim lighting and no proper ventilation. The rooms were damp, moldy, infested with bedbugs, cockroaches, lice, and rats.

According to the prosecutor’s office, people were fed unsuitable or barely edible food, causing them to lose weight and become emaciated. Some victims lost almost 20 kilograms.

Civilians also had virtually no access to drinking water. Industrial water was supplied only once every three days for several hours. Furthermore, prisoners were held in the same cells with people suffering from infectious diseases.

After their dismissal, the victims developed health problems, including hepatitis C, vision impairment, dental problems, hair problems, and cardiovascular problems. They also suffered long-term psychological consequences.

An ex-officer at an occupation pretrial detention facility is charged with cruelty to civilians committed by a group of individuals acting in concert. The maximum penalty under this charge is up to 12 years in prison.