On July 19 during a briefing at the Ukraine Media Center, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko reported that the Russian occupiers have created at least four filtration centers in Mariupol and nearby settlements. More than 10,000 Ukrainian citizens are being held there and detained citizens are often tortured by the invaders.
Russian occupiers are searching for disloyal citizens in the occupied territories. Many Ukrainians are being forced to undergo filtering measures to identify those considered patriots, volunteers, veterans, and persons connected with the Ukrainian authorities and the army.
During interrogations, the occupiers dispense psychological and physical abuse.
Filtration centers have sprung up in many of the occupied territories – created to hold people during inspections.
“There are filtration centers both in Mariupol and outside the city. Four are operational. Unfortunately, there are more than 10,000 people,” Boychenko said.
Civil servants, city government employees, and communal enterprise representatives are among the prisoners. The occupiers subject them to torture, and there are cases of prisoners being killed.
“There is information that one of the leaders of a city near Mariupol could not withstand the torture and unfortunately died in captivity. He was captured following the verdict of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic court. There are many similar cases. The invaders are pressuring the prisoners to support Russia and work for them. People refuse,” the mayor said.
He added that there is no medical care in the filtration centers and no doctors to save lives, so many of Mariupol residents have already died in those prisons.
According to Boychenko, the invaders currently hold almost 2,000 men in one filtration center with a view to mobilizing them to the front.
Russia’s aggression has caused a humanitarian disaster in Mariupol that has captured global attention. The city was almost destroyed as a result of enemy shelling.
Today, Mariupol is without regular supply of electricity, water, and gas. It is at risk of an ecological disaster and an outbreak of infectious diseases.
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion, about 22,000 civilians have died in the city. More than 50,000 have been deported to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk region. Currently, more than 100,000 residents remain in the blockaded city.
