Azov medic Oleksandr Krokhmaliuk tortured to death in captivity

Another Ukrainian prisoner of war has died in Russian captivity — Oleksandr Krokhmaliuk, a military medic of the Azov brigade, died as a result of torture. This was reported by Azov deputy commander Sviatoslav “Kalyna” Palamar.

Krokhmaliuk joined Azov back in 2016. At the time he was taken into captivity, he held the position of Chief of Medical Service. Palamar called the fallen soldier a dignified fighter and his brother-in-arms.

Oleksandr Krokhmaliuk went into captivity during the defense of Azovstal. He later survived the infamous Olenivka camp and the torture facility in Taganrog. The last known place of his detention was the SIZO-2 pre-trial detention facility in Kamyshin.

In September 2025, Krokhmaliuk’s body was returned to Ukraine as part of another stage of the “1000-for-1000” repatriation. The forensic examination established the cause of death: rib fractures and blunt chest trauma.

“This is yet another indictment of the system of international humanitarian law, which is unable to protect the health and the lives of Ukrainian POWs in russian captivity. The blatant and scornful violation of the Geneva Conventions, the torture and murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war, is an intentional barbaric state policy of the russians. Systematic and well-documented, yet unpunished,” Palamar emphasized.

The deputy commander called on Ukrainian officials, human rights advocates, and diplomats to speak about such cases from the rostrums of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and in bilateral negotiations.

Palamar called the return of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war, including Azov fighters, a priority in Ukraine’s international relations that cannot be postponed.

“Otherwise, the time will come when there will be no one left to bring back from captivity,” he warned.