During April and May 2024, lawyers and psychologists from the Center for Assistance in War Crimes Documentation of the “OPORA in Poland” Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the Center) conducted 58 pre-screening interviews with victims and witnesses of war crimes currently residing in Poland.
In response to a new influx of refugees, the Center has broadened its operations to include the Subcarpathian and Lesser Poland Voivodeships. This expansion is aimed at addressing the needs of those newly arrived in these regions.
| Place of evidence collection (April-May, 2024) | Number of interviews |
| Warszawa | 24 |
| Przemyśl, Subcarpathian Voivodeship | 18 |
| Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship | 5 |
| Sieborowice, Lesser Poland Voivodeship | 4 |
| Czyżów, Lesser Poland Voivodeship | 4 |
| Przasnysz, Masovian Voivodeship | 2 |
| Pułtusk, Masovian Voivodeship | 1 |
Typical witness profile: The majority of the interviewed witnesses (81%) are women (47), and 19% are men (11). This distribution is influenced by specific border crossing rules in Ukraine during martial law. Regarding age distribution, the interviewed witnesses are categorized as follows: 40% (23) are aged 31-45, 21% (12) are aged 46-60, 28% (16) are over 60 years old, and 8% (6) are under 30. One witness opted not to disclose her age.
Regional Affiliation of the Interviewees: Most interviewees hail from regions actively involved in military conflict or occupied territories. Those from western and central Ukraine, as well as from Kyiv, have directly witnessed air raids, witnessing air bombs or their impacts firsthand.
| Region | Number of Interviewees |
| Kherson | 7 |
| Kharkiv | 10 |
| Donetsk | 15 |
| Zaporizhzhia | 9 |
| Kyiv | 6 |
| Luhansk | 4 |
| Dnipropetrovsk | 4 |
| Mykolaiv | 1 |
| Sumy | 2 |
Types of war crime revealed during pre–screening interviews
| War Crime Type | Number of cases reported by eye-witnesses |
| Killings (shooting) or wounding civilians | 15 |
| Killing the wounded military who was no longer participating in the combat | 1 |
| Active military action near or within residential quarters | 16 |
| Enemies using civilian cloths, uniforms and emblems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces or humanitarian (also IRCC) or medical institutions | 1 |
| The use of prohibited weapon, such as chemical weapons, cluster munitions, phosphorus bombs, etc. | 7 |
| Use of civilian infrastructure (schools, hospitals, culture institutions, etc.) for military purposes | 14 |
| Deportation or forced displacement of a person (group of persons), and children | 6 |
| Abduction or keeping hostage a person | 5 |
| Destruction (such as burning) or abuse and brutalization of bodies of the killed persons | 1 |
| other sexual violence types | 2 |
| Torture or violent treatment of people | 13 |
| Mining residential neighborhoods and facilities (schools, hospitals, etc.), property (cars, devices, etc.), human bodies, etc. | 2 |
| Illegal detention or imprisonment of a person, mob justice | 12 |
| Damage to their own property | 30 |
| Damaging other persons’ property | 55 |
| Damage to hazardous facilities (nuclear power plants, storages with chemicals, etc.) | 1 |
| Damage to culture or art facilities | 12 |
| Damage or destruction of civilian facilities (schools, health care facilities, residential care institutions, etc.) | 55 |
| Damage to other infrastructure facilities (electricity, gas, water, oil supply networks, etc.) | 41 |
| Hiding behind civilians (the use of “living shields”) | 8 |
| Pillaging of property | 13 |
| Fragments of shells in residential neighbourhoods | 38 |
| Purposeful settlement of Russians in the captured Ukrainian territories | 5 |
Nearly all interviewees reported witnessing or hearing about multiple types of war crimes in their respective localities. The most commonly mentioned were destruction or damage to property. Specifically:
- 55 witnesses reported destruction or damage to others’ property, while 30 reported damage to their own.
- Shell debris in residential areas was observed by 38 interviewees.
- Damage or destruction to civilian structures, such as schools, medical facilities, and care institutions, was reported by 55 witnesses.
- Infrastructure elements, including electricity, gas, water, and oil networks, were noted as damaged by 44 witnesses.
- Fighting in residential neighborhoods was recorded by 16 witnesses.
- Instances of illegal detentions, deprivation of liberty, or unauthorized sentencing were reported by 12 interviewees.
Summary of Information Collected from Eye-witnesses (by Type of Crime)
- Destruction or Damage to Civil and Critical Infrastructure
At the onset of the full-scale invasion, witnesses reported hearing explosions and witnessing the oil depot in Vasylkiv ablaze from their residences situated on the 10th floor of a building in Chabany village.
In most of the abandoned towns witnessed, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, private houses, and enterprises suffered extensive destruction or significant damage. For example, the “Donbas Clay” enterprise in Slovyansk was severely affected.
In the Kherson region’s occupied territories, shelling from Crimea targeted a tomato factory. Moreover, an attack originating from the forest struck the village council precisely during the distribution of Russian funds to local residents.
In March 2024, in Dobropillia city, drones attacked a miners’ dormitory that housed displaced persons from Volnovakha.
In Makiivka, a Grad rocket strike at the “Pivnich” bus stop resulted in casualties among waiting civilians and caused damage to nearby businesses, including a hair salon and shops.
- Events in Frontline and Occupied Areas
In 2014, armed Chechens carrying automatic weapons were observed patrolling the Kramatorsk market. One witness faced threats and humiliation from a Chechen wielding a gun due to her remarks. Additionally, Russian Cossacks were present in the city. Military forces occupying Kramatorsk fired from rooftops of high-rise buildings toward Karachun, where Ukrainian forces were stationed. A taxi driver was physically threatened by a passenger for accidentally using a Ukrainian word. Following February 24, 2022, strikes targeted schools and kindergartens in the city.
An employee at the Enerhodar power plant witnessed the takeover while on duty. Russian soldiers seized the station, preventing employees from leaving and holding them captive for an extended period. By the next day, the Russians had erased all evidence of their shelling during the takeover and coerced plant workers into serving Russia. Ukrainian workers were initially unharmed as long as they were needed, but from February 1, 2024, their access cards were blocked. Subsequently, military personnel searched the witness’s home three times. Fearing for safety, the witness relocated, renting an apartment to evade detection. On September 1, 2022, gunfire targeted the witness while commuting to work. The shells originated from Novodniprovka (Dniprovska), where Russian forces were stationed. Notably, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was inspecting the plant at that time. A nearby house was struck by a shell, prompting the witness and a stranger to seek refuge in a bus and flee. Russian soldiers detained people at the station, leaving the site unsupervised.
During each rotation, Russian troops simulated shelling on the city, including the station, to fabricate an appearance of Ukrainian attacks. This ruse was evident from the soldiers’ composed behavior during these simulated attacks; they remained calm and did not take cover. Aware that Ukrainian forces would not target the station, Russian soldiers felt secure there. One Russian soldier admitted to bribing for stationing in Enerhodar due to its perceived safety. All city destruction resulted from Russian shelling, coordinated for immediate coverage by Russian media. The entire station was rigged with explosives. Numerous military equipment and troops were stationed at the plant, with equipment concealed beneath the most vulnerable areas to avoid detection. From the station itself, Russian forces launched attacks on other towns.
In Enerhodar, individuals with pro-Ukrainian views faced persecution. Speaking Ukrainian was banned, Ukrainian literature and symbols were destroyed, and even the colors yellow and blue were prohibited.
In Donetsk region’s Hornyak city, the older sister and mother of a witness were killed during a shelling incident when a shell hit their home, throwing their bodies onto the road. The witness’s niece and her son were transported to a hospital in Dnipro, where the nephew succumbed following deteriorating health subsequent to his mother and grandmother’s deaths.
Mariupol experienced power and water shortages from March 4, 2022. Civilians sought refuge in basements during shelling. The witness’s apartment was struck while they were inside, resulting in the collapse of their building; they narrowly escaped from the rubble. Artillery and rocket fire, along with sniper attacks on civilians, were constant. Deceased civilians lay on the streets following shelling incidents. Those lacking registration in Mariupol or Donetsk were immediately deported to Rostov, Russia. During the screening process, fingerprints were taken, even from six-year-old children, and photographs were captured.
Other Mariupol witnesses lived in the House of Culture basement, avoiding going outside for 20 days. The basement lacked electricity and water, with navigation relying on vocal communication. Starvation claimed lives, with children pleading for food from their parents. Witness families faced dilemmas over food distribution. One family attempted to flee by car, but the father was shot by a sniper, compelling their return. A 14-year-old son assumed control of the vehicle. Despite suffering a head wound and exposed skull injury, the father remained alive in agony. Another basement dweller agreed to transport the injured man to a hospital in a cart, but he succumbed due to inadequate medical care. Many attempting car escapes fell victim to sniper fire. The witness’s two-year-old son suffered constant wetness in the basement without diapers, facing disease risk from drinking river water. Eventually, Ukrainian soldiers informed them of occupied city sectors, indicating a safe route away from shelled areas. They journeyed to a sports complex under Russian occupation, which provided water and food, leading to a gastrointestinal infection outbreak among them. Suspicious civilian men encountered armed soldiers, resulting in fatalities for those deemed suspect, identified by unusual tattoos. Subsequently, the witness’s two-year-old son’s health condition deteriorated severely.
In Bakhmut, electricity and water were unavailable. People cooked meals outdoors amidst shelling. A witness’s friend died from a shell strike while cooking outside.
In Kherson region during the occupation, Russian forces conducted house searches, confiscating weapons such as hunting rifles. They looted household appliances and vehicles from private homes. Business owners were coerced into transferring ownership to Russians, who seized their property. Ahead of the 2022 “referendum,” Russians conducted a census, visiting homes with ballot boxes to enforce voting. Residents were pressured into adopting Russian citizenship and enrolling their children in Russian schools. Military equipment was often positioned near residential buildings to evade Ukrainian attacks.
Occupying forces initially occupied Ukrainian military personnel apartments, relocating families to reside in the city and mandating residents acquire Russian passports. Ukrainian passports were closely scrutinized at checkpoints. In the witness’s Melitopol apartment, a search occurred post-departure, orchestrated by Russian personnel with an acquaintance holding a key. A purported Russian law enforcement officer awaited, accusing the resident of terrorism and drug addiction. Threatening to break down the door unless given the key, Russian soldiers scoured the apartment, confiscating items including a Ukrainian flag banned under occupation, a paratrooper’s beret, military insignias, and unused Kalashnikov bullet casings absent from the witness’s prior possession. Also discovered was potassium permanganate, falsely linked to drug manufacturing, resulting in a criminal case alleging terrorist assistance and drug production. The apartment was sealed, and keys confiscated. After Kherson’s liberation, the witness’s husband joined colleagues to repair a damaged road section. Bombs struck their location, leaving one colleague legless and another injured. Suffering a concussion, the husband was detained with colleagues by armed, Russian-speaking soldiers, confined to a waterlogged basement. They endured binding, rifle beatings, and torture, with severe injuries inflicted by Russian soldiers. Following two days, Ukrainian forces found and liberated them during routine area sweeps. One colleague remains missing, with the husband’s mental health deteriorating, manifesting paranoia, and poor condition.
- Cases of Illegal Detention and Torture
Individuals who had previously served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) were targeted by Russians, being forcibly taken to torture facilities. One witness recounted how an acquaintance disappeared, enduring six months of captivity before release, while her sister’s husband suffered severe beatings. Vehicles belonging to civilians were also confiscated.
Following the occupation of Bakhmut, the witness’s brother, remaining in the city, was captured by Wagner Group operatives and transported to Lipetsk, Russia.
A friend from Enerhodar described his harrowing experience in captivity, forced to clean up after brutal interrogations. He recounted cleaning blood from torture sessions and once discovering an eyeball. Many detainees known to him never returned, their fate remaining unknown.
A female colleague of the witness, employed at the nuclear power plant, was apprehended directly from her workstation during a shift, contrary to safety protocols that mandate her position remains attended. Russian soldiers detained her under suspicion that her ex-boyfriend was providing targeting information to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). Despite their former relationship, she endured weeks of beatings, electric shocks, and sexual assault. Upon her eventual release, she vanished from the city.
4. War Crimes Against Children
Children were forced to attend Russian-run schools, which were occupied by Russian military personnel. In these schools, they were compelled to learn the Russian national anthem. Those who failed to memorize the anthem received poor grades in other subjects. Additionally, the children were told that Ukraine was responsible for the shelling.
People who refused to obtain Russian passports were threatened with having their children taken away.
- War Crimes During Evacuation and Filtration
One witness was traveling on an evacuation train that came under fire near the town of Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast. The windows of the train shattered, causing panic and a stampede among the passengers. Another witness from Bakhmut managed to escape the city while it was being shelled by mortars.
The filtration process was often lengthy, sometimes taking an entire day, and not everyone was allowed to pass. One woman’s teenage son had his phone inspected by a Russian soldier who found something he didn’t like. The soldier became furious, pointed his gun at the boy, and loaded it, threatening to shoot him. Only after the mother pleaded with the soldier was the boy released.
Witnesses had to pay $300 per person to cross into Russia through Kolotylivka, near Sumy Oblast. For those trying to go directly to Poland, the cost was $600. Some witnesses walked three kilometers near the Kolotylivka border crossing, even as shelling continued.
Witnesses prepared for their departure by rehearsing what to say at checkpoints.
Witnesses from Mariupol, suffering from a gastrointestinal infection due to drinking river water, walked for about three hours with other evacuees. They were picked up by a passing car and taken to the village of Volodarske, which was also occupied. At a checkpoint, a soldier told them they were already in Russia and that the nearest hospital was in Donetsk. In Donetsk, the children were treated for two days before a doctor said they could not continue care because the witness had not undergone filtration. While the woman went for filtration, her husband had to hide with relatives to avoid forced conscription. During filtration, she was interrogated about her connections, asked where her husband was, had her fingerprints taken, was photographed, and had her phone checked. Only after obtaining a filtration certificate were her children fully treated. As Donetsk came under shelling, including a hit at a market where the witness was, she experienced a panic attack for the first time and decided to leave for Rostov. Volunteers then helped her and her family move from city to city, eventually reaching Saint Petersburg. In Rostov, they were subjected to prolonged questioning. The witness claimed to be traveling to Russia out of fear, although their final destination was Poland. This deception pleased the interrogators, who allowed them to pass.
During the evacuation from Melitopol, a convoy of buses filled with children, elderly, and women faced numerous checkpoints. At each checkpoint, they were thoroughly searched. At the last checkpoint, Russian soldiers ordered everyone to get out and dump their belongings from their suitcases onto the ground. The soldiers walked by, turning over items with their gun barrels. They then shouted, “Quickly, back to the buses!” Terrified, people hurriedly gathered their belongings, mixing their items with others’ in the chaos. The bus driver then sped away, but the last bus in the convoy came under fire.
In Orikhove, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an evacuation convoy in which a witness was traveling was shelled.
On August 18, 2022, while evacuating from the occupied territory of Kherson Oblast with her children, a witness passed through the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station. Russian soldiers there lined everyone up in a row, frightening the children who thought they were about to be executed. After undergoing filtration, they were allowed to proceed.
