In the basement of a seized building in the center of temporarily occupied Kherson in 2022, civilians were systematically subjected to illegal detention and torture. Victims were placed in unsanitary conditions without windows or natural light, without beds or mattresses - on the concrete floor. Detainees were chained to radiators, and access to toilets was restricted. 

Electric current was applied to the victims, mock executions were staged, and threats of sexual violence were made. Such actions were used as a means of intimidation and coercion to provide information about alleged collaboration with Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.

The investigation established that in the summer of 2022, two suspects, while in occupied Kherson, joined the so-called "State Security Service of the Kherson Region," created by the occupying authorities and modeled after the FSB of the Russian Federation. Within this structure, they held positions as "Head of Special Operations Department 'A'" and "Senior Officer of the Skadovsk Interdistrict Department."

Members of this structure sought out residents of the city for their pro-Ukrainian stance, persecuted them, illegally deprived them of their liberty, and used violence to obtain information and suppress any manifestations of disloyalty to the occupying authorities.

In early July 2022, armed Russian soldiers conducted a search in the home of a resident of Kherson, after which they forcibly took him to the basement of the seized building. During the interrogation, one of the suspects demanded access to the victim's phone contacts and information about possible collaboration with Ukrainian law enforcement. A gun was held to the man's head, and a shot was simulated.

Subsequently, another suspect continued the interrogation using electric current and threats of sexual violence. Due to systematic torture, the victim repeatedly lost consciousness. The illegal detention lasted for more than a month. In mid-August, he was taken from the place of illegal imprisonment and left on one of the streets of the city.

In early September of the same year, Russian soldiers detained another resident of Kherson and placed him in the same basement. During the interrogation, he was unjustly accused of allegedly directing missile strikes against Russian military targets. One of the suspects applied electric current and struck the victim's head and body with his feet, trying to force a confession.

Under the procedural guidance of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office, two participants in the illegal armed formation were notified of suspicion in absentia for treason, participation in an illegal armed formation, and cruel treatment of civilians (Part 2 of Article 111, Part 2 of Article 260, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kherson region with operational support from the Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime of the Security Service of Ukraine in the region.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.