Ukraine-Russia war– live: Captured Ukrainian soldiers reveal torture in Russian prison – report

Former Ukrainian captives have alleged they were subjected to torture, including electric shocks, while they were held at a detention facility in Russia. Speaking to the BBC over a dozen former detainees detailed the alleged physical and psychological abuse they suffered at the hands of Russian officers and guards at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility Number Two in Taganrog. They have since been released in prisoner exchanges. Guards at the facility carry black batons and metal bars to beat the captives in the legs, arms, or “anywhere they wanted”, senior lieutenant Artem Seredniak was quoted as saying. “It’s what they call ‘reception’,” he said. The captives were left under-nourished and the injured were not provided appropriate medical assistance, according to the report, which details a number of potential serious violations of international law. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government is set to build new fortifications and military infrastructure in northeast regions that border Russia and Belarus at a cost of nearly $35m, prime minister Denys Shmyhal has said. “At the request of Kharkiv and Chernihiv... we are allocating 911.5m hryvnias ($24.7m) for Kharkiv and 363m ($9.8m) for Chernihiv to build military engineering and fortification structures,” Mr Shmyhal said on Telegram. Read More Putin’s forces step up air strikes on Ukraine regions bordering Nato Experts warn Ukraine’s frontline push is being damaged by West Putin accuses West of ‘adding fuel to fire’ with conflict in Ukraine Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?