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There are several illegal prisons in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine (Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People Republic) where Russian authorities forcibly held soldiers, including mobilized civilians who refuse to continue participating in the "special military operation". Russian authorities are using threats, psychological abuse and torture to force them to return to the front.

Journalists have been able to confirm the existence of 13 such prisons, in which, according to relatives, more than 600 people are being held:

1. Zaytseva, Luhansk province;
2. Zavitne Bazhanya, Donetsk province;
3. Dokuchayevsk, Donetsk province;
4. Perevalsk, Luhansk province;
5. Rubezhnoy, Luhansk province;
6. Kremennaya, Luhansk province;
7. Staromlynovk, Donetsk province;
8. Starobelsk, Luhansk province;
9. Golubovka, Luhansk province;
10. Bryank, Luhansk province;
11. Novtroitsk, Donetsk province;
12. Makarovo, Luhansk province;
13. Amvrosivsk,  Donetsk province. 

Soldiers are held illegally in those prisons. Without a court decision, they were deprived of their liberty by the command of the Russian army, which refused to accept their statements about the refusal to continue participation in the “special military operation” for reasons of conscience. Such a right is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation in Art. 28 and Art. 59.

In addition, mobilized civilians are kept in appalling conditions: they are threatened with torture and executions, they are deprived of the medical help and food, In this way Russian authorities are trying to force them to return to the front, although they have not received proper training nor basic supplies. 

We demand from the Russian authorities, including the head of the investigative committee, Alexander Bastrykin, and the Supreme Commander of the Russian Army, Vladimir Putin:

1. Check all reports of cases of internal captivity and identify those responsible for the illegal detention of Russian military personnel;
2. Establish personal data, location of detained military personnel and their state of health.
3. Take urgent measures to release and protect the life and health of detained military personnel.
4. Take measures to implement the constitutional right of detained military personnel to replace military service with alternative civilian service.
5. Take measures to prevent organizing such illegal prisons in the future.