August 13, 2026, years after the start of the full-scale invasion, the issue of the treatment of prisoners of war remains one of the most acute and politicized. Andriy Pasternak, head of the Joint Center for Coordination of Search and Release of Prisoners of War, revealed a shocking practice employed by the Russian side. According to him, there are special cells in Russia where Ukrainian prisoners selected for exchange are forcibly "fattened" to create the appearance of compliance with international norms.
"Pocket" humanitarianism: the tactics of propaganda deception
As revealed in Pasternak's statement at a press conference with Ukrinform, this practice is part of the systematic work of Russian special services to prepare "footage" for international observers and the Western audience. "Everyone involved in exchange negotiations knows that the enemy, knowing who they will hand over—and this concerns civilians too—brings (these prisoners) into normal shape through a process called fattening," the expert emphasized.
The essence of the method lies in creating an artificial contrast. Prisoners who are to appear on camera or undergo a medical examination before the exchange are transferred to a regime of enhanced nutrition a few weeks before the procedure. This is done solely to make them look healthy and energetic, allowing Russia to demonstrate "humane" treatment of Ukrainians in its information channels.
Psychological violence and a tool of torture
Pasternak noted that this is not just a matter of nutrition, but another element of psychological torture and abuse. "This is also one of the elements of torture—mockery, when some are deliberately starved, while others are fattened so that they look more or less normal," stated the SBU representative.
Such discrimination within the camp creates an atmosphere of helplessness and humiliation. Prisoners who do not make it onto the exchange lists remain in conditions of hunger and exhaustion, while their comrades receive privileges. This divides people, breaks their morale, and is used as a lever of pressure. Information about such methods comes directly from released Ukrainian defenders and civilians who have returned from captivity.
Contradictory data
There is a clear conflict between the statements of the Russian side and the actual situation described by Ukrainian experts. At all meetings, the negotiation group emphasizes that Ukrainian prisoners being returned and Russian prisoners of war being handed over by Ukraine differ significantly in physical condition.
On the one hand, Moscow claims to comply with all norms of the Geneva Convention and presents "fattened" prisoners as proof of its humanitarianism. On the other hand, released Ukrainians report that "ours are all very thin. Only a handful are, plus or minus, in normal physical condition." At the same time, Russian prisoners of war being handed over by Ukraine do indeed look "fattened," as Kyiv does not use such manipulations and ensures the detention of prisoners in accordance with international standards.
International control and a new media campaign
Despite the presence of international institutions such as the ICRC and the UN, which constantly inspect detention sites, Russia continues to use this topic to manipulate public opinion. Pasternak reminded that there is a specific feeding schedule and international standards that Ukraine strictly adheres to.
In August 2026, Russia intensified a new information campaign, attempting to form a perception among the Western audience of an allegedly humane attitude towards Ukrainians. Simultaneously, the aggressor state launched a media campaign to discredit Ukraine, publishing lists of prisoners that Kyiv allegedly "refuses to take," ignoring the real reasons for delays in exchanges.
