This analytical review for August 2026 was prepared based on a qualitative andquantitative analysis of twenty testimonies concerning the unlawfuldeprivation of personal liberty of civilians in the context of the RussianFederation’s armed aggression against Ukraine. The August set of testimoniescovers both short-term episodes of forced detention and long-termimprisonment, enforced disappearances, torture and other cruel treatment,the deportation of civilians to the Russian Federation, detention in unofficialplaces of confinement, pretrial detention centers and penal colonies, forcedlabor, persecution for pro-Ukrainian views, prior military or law enforcementservice, financial support for Ukraine, refusal to integrate into the Russianoccupation system, as well as criminal and quasi-judicial proceedings, whichin some cases resulted in lengthy prison sentences.

This report was prepared with the support of the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, Estonia, Canada, Norway, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the NGO “Association of Relatives of the Kremlin’s Political Prisoners” and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Programme and/or its funding partners.

The Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine is a multi-donor initiative funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, Estonia, Canada, Norway, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden. The Programme aims to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression by providing critical support to communities in cooperation with Ukrainian government authorities, civil society, the media and the private sector.

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