Rubtsovsk Penal Colony No. 5
Altai Krai, Rubtsovsk
Russia
Penal Colony
Active
Penal Colony No. 5 in Rubtsovsk, Altai Krai, is a prison in a remote and climatically harsh region of Russia. Ukrainian prisoners of war, including defenders of Mariupol, have been held there following their capture. Testimonies from released POWs and families indicate that the colony is characterised by extreme isolation, cold, hunger, and systemic abuse. Due to the region’s isolation and prison restrictions, access to further information remains extremely limited.
POWs of Altai prisons and their relatives report beatings and torture as routine, with physical violence used to intimidate. A common form of psychological abuse involves staging fake prisoner exchanges. POWs are blindfolded, transported, and told they are about to be exchanged, only to be mocked and beaten upon arrival.
Prisoners are subjected to systemic hunger. Meals, when provided, were described as “salted water” in 200-gram portions. Testimonies mention mould-infested cells, overcrowding (up to 10 men per cell), and chronic exposure to cold. The prison regime imposed forced labour despite starvation and freezing conditions.
The remote location of the prison and the lack of external contact created conditions of total informational isolation. Fake exchanges were staged to abuse prisoners mentally.
Overview
Penal Colony No. 5 in Rubtsovsk, Altai Krai, is a prison in a remote and climatically harsh region of Russia. Ukrainian prisoners of war, including defenders of Mariupol, have been held there following their capture. Testimonies from released POWs and families indicate that the colony is characterised by extreme isolation, cold, hunger, and systemic abuse. Due to the region’s isolation and prison restrictions, access to further information remains extremely limited.
Torture & Abuse
POWs of Altai prisons and their relatives report beatings and torture as routine, with physical violence used to intimidate. A common form of psychological abuse involves staging fake prisoner exchanges. POWs are blindfolded, transported, and told they are about to be exchanged, only to be mocked and beaten upon arrival.
Food & Sanitation
Prisoners are subjected to systemic hunger. Meals, when provided, were described as “salted water” in 200-gram portions. Testimonies mention mould-infested cells, overcrowding (up to 10 men per cell), and chronic exposure to cold. The prison regime imposed forced labour despite starvation and freezing conditions.
Psychological Pressure
The remote location of the prison and the lack of external contact created conditions of total informational isolation. Fake exchanges were staged to abuse prisoners mentally.
News
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EU imposed sanctions on the heads and staff of colonies where Ukrainian POWs are tortured
On 13 July, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision imposing restrictive measures on 15 individuals and one entity responsible for violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war and unlawfully detained civilians. Most of those listed are heads and staff of penal colonies where prisoners are held.
Around 700 Azov POWs in captivity, over 250 already sentenced: presentation of the Civic Evidence report
On June 30, in Kyiv, at Ukrinform, the independent initiative Civic Evidence presented its report "The Honorable Captivity of Azov: How Propaganda, Violence, and Trials Shape the Fate of Ukrainian Prisoners of War in Russia." The study focuses on the situation of Ukrainian prisoners of war from the Azov regiment and exposes a mechanism that combines Russian propaganda machinery, practices of torture, and fabricated criminal prosecution. The authors document the systemic nature of Russia's violations of international humanitarian law and call for strengthening international mechanisms to protect prisoners of war.
Russian medics torture prisoners of war: a new study by human rights defenders
On 24 June, the Center for Civil Liberties presented the analytical study "Anatomy of Torture" in Kyiv. The document examines the role of Russian medical personnel in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and illegally detained civilians.
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