Torture and Control: Life Under Occupation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to harrowing reports of torture and human rights violations, particularly in territories occupied by Russian forces. One chilling account details the experiences of Ruslan Lavryk, a former radio engineer at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, who was abducted and tortured following the Russian invasion in February 2022.

After Russia seized the plant, Lavryk was coerced into signing a contract with Russia’s state nuclear authority under duress. His son, Vladyslav Lavryk, shared that in June 2024, eight officers from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) invaded their home, physically assaulted his father, and took him into custody. For weeks, the family was left without information about his well-being. It was only after a month that they confirmed he was alive.

Survival and Torture

Lavryk’s ordeal began in a torture chamber within the FSB’s facility in Enerhodar, where he faced horrific conditions. His son recounted that Lavryk suffered severe mistreatment that included beatings, starvation, and psychological abuse, all aimed at forcing him to admit to crimes he did not commit. “The goal was to force him to sign documents admitting guilt,” Vladyslav explained.

The systematic abuse Lavryk endured is not an isolated case. According to Zera Kozlyieva, legal director at the investigative outlet Truth Hounds, many nuclear plant workers have faced similar fates after being targeted by Russian forces. The occupation has led to a demand for their expertise, often resulting in coercion and torture for those who refuse to comply. Lavryk’s choice to remain at the plant was driven by a sense of responsibility for both his work and the safety of his country.

Reports indicate that at least 78 employees of the nuclear facility are among the 226 residents of Enerhodar detained across various sites. The current count of hostages includes 14 nuclear employees, as confirmed by family members. The mayor of Enerhodar, now in exile, has stated, “We know of many cases where nuclear workers were broken psychologically and physically,” highlighting the extent of the violence used to compel compliance.

Conditions of Detention

Detainees, including Lavryk, were held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, often in windowless rooms or basements. They faced a lack of food, water, and medical care. This treatment contravenes international law, with reports of severe physical abuse, threats of sexual violence, and even deaths among the detainees. The UN has noted a systematic pattern of torture and degrading treatment in occupied areas.

The situation has led to a chilling atmosphere in Enerhodar, once home to 53,000 residents but now reduced to approximately 13,000, as many flee or avoid encounters with the military. The local population faces shortages of essential medicines and must comply with Russian military oversight, as all internet traffic is monitored by the FSB.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant itself has become a focal point of military operations, with Russian artillery stationed nearby, raising fears of a potential nuclear disaster should hostilities escalate.

Among those imprisoned is Nataliia Shulha, a 57-year-old engineer who was sentenced to 15 years in prison after refusing to sign a contract with Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation. Her daughter described her mother as a kind person who does not deserve to be imprisoned, expressing concern for Shulha’s health amidst her incarceration.

As reports of torture and inhumane treatment continue to emerge, calls for international attention and action grow louder. Vladyslav Lavryk, reflecting on his father’s situation, stated, “Ukrainians are now paying too high a price. We are paying with our lives and our freedom and Ukraine needs help from outside for stopping the conflict.”

The plight of individuals like Lavryk and Shulha underlines the broader humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict, highlighting a need for urgent intervention to address the violations of human rights in occupied territories.