Artem Irinarkhov, a member of the National Guard of Ukraine, described severe mistreatment and starvation at the Kamyshinsky SIZO No. 2 prison in Russia [1].
These testimonies highlight the systemic conditions facing Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in Russian custody. Such accounts provide critical evidence for international monitors tracking human rights violations during the ongoing conflict.
Irinarkhov was released on May 15, 2024, as part of a prisoner exchange [1]. He said the environment within the facility was harrowing, where he witnessed prisoners reduced to skeletal states due to extreme hunger [1]. According to Irinarkhov, the facility lacked basic medical assistance for those in need of care [1].
Beyond starvation, the guard described a regime of abuse and torture. He said the conditions were designed to break the will of the detainees, a pattern he observed across the facility [1]. The lack of nutrition and healthcare, combined with psychological and physical pressure, created a lethal environment for many captives [1].
Irinarkhov said he shared these experiences to expose the reality of Russian detention centers and to provide clarity for the families of those still held [1]. He said the conditions at Kamyshinsky SIZO No. 2 were characterized by a total disregard for human life [1].
“Prisoners reduced to skeletal states due to extreme hunger”
The testimony from Kamyshinsky SIZO No. 2 adds to a growing body of evidence regarding the treatment of POWs in Russia. By documenting starvation and medical neglect, these accounts support potential legal claims of war crimes and pressure international bodies to demand better access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to verify prisoner welfare.
