Residents of the newly reclaimed city of Kherson on Monday described months of brutal treatment and ill-treatment by Russian forces, including vehicle theft, beatings and detention of anyone suspected of crimes against humanity. The occupation lasted for almost nine months.
In interviews, they describe how the Russians round up residents, whether because of their political views or because they are suspected of belonging to an underground partisan group.
At an open-air market that sells essentials such as pain relievers and toilet paper not available in stores, many residents tell stories of acquaintances in custody, some saying they have heard of trapping. ton.
Vyacheslav Lukashuk, 27, a lanky laborer, said he had to face down on the living room floor after about a dozen soldiers burst into the house and beat him. They ended up holding him for seven days.
“All I did was write ‘Glory to Ukraine’ in spray paint on a bus stop,” he said.
The worst abuse happened in the first few minutes, he said. One soldier put a plastic bag over his head and wrapped it around his neck to suffocate him, and other soldiers kicked him and beat him with rifles, he said.
“They just flew in and started beating me,” Mr. Lukashuk said. “I said goodbye to my life at the time.”
Lukashuk said that after being sent to prison, other detainees told him they were tortured with electric shocks, and that he could hear screams in the evening. Mr. Lukashuk said he was not tortured during his detention, but he did confess and apologize for the pro-Ukrainian graffiti — a confession that was posted online along with that of residents. other acknowledge pro-Ukrainian activities or views, in an apparent attempt to shame or humiliate them.
Mykhail Tkachov, a dealer at many places that sell new and used cars, said Russian forces claim to be there to protect people but regularly steal from them, especially targeting vehicle.
Tkachov said he and his colleagues spread a stockpile of nearly 200 cars throughout the courtyards and street parking places around the city in the first days after the arrival of the Russian Army. But the Russians arrested one of the dealers, and he revealed the location and delivered the keys.
“People live like shadows,” said Tkachov, afraid to reveal their presence, while Russian soldiers stay at home.
“I saw eight of them sitting in a cafe right down this street,” he said. “They drive civilian cars with no license plates, obviously stolen from someone.”
Serhiy Karasenko, who sells homemade cauliflower, cabbage and tomatoes at a market stall, said Russian soldiers hijacked his car last week, just before fleeing the city. Now he takes his stuff to the market by taxi. His car, he said, “is gone. I won’t see him again.”
Tkachov said some people’s cars were stolen at Russian checkpoints. The soldiers took them, ostensibly after discovering a problem with the Ukrainian registration papers, like an unregistered vehicle for the driver. He said the car owned by a friend’s company was confiscated.
“It’s a business vehicle,” Tkachov said the man told the soldiers. But he said the soldiers replied, “Now it’s our business,” and took the car.
