Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have disappeared since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Some were detained in occupied territories, others were transferred to prisons inside Russia. For many families, months or even years have passed without information about where their loved ones are being held or whether they are still alive.

The Viktoriia Project, a major cross-border investigation published in April 2025, sought to uncover what happened to these missing civilians. Led by Forbidden Stories and conducted with twelve international media partners, the project examined a network of detention facilities where Ukrainian civilians are allegedly held outside normal legal procedures and, in many cases, subjected to torture and abuse.

The investigation was named after Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who disappeared in August 2023 while reporting on secret detention sites in occupied Ukraine. After more than a year in Russian custody, Russian authorities confirmed her death in October 2024. Her case became a symbol of the broader issue of enforced disappearances during the war.

Documenting a Hidden System

According to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, between 16,000 and 20,000 Ukrainian civilians may currently be detained by Russian authorities. Because many detainees are held without official registration or legal status, establishing an exact figure remains difficult.

The Viktoriia Project reported that Ukrainian authorities and human rights organizations had documented 186 detention locations in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. Among these, investigators identified 29 facilities where evidence and testimonies suggest that torture and ill-treatment are systematic practices.

Former detainees interviewed by the project described severe beatings, electric shocks, prolonged isolation, threats, and inhumane detention conditions. Many reported being denied access to lawyers, family members, or any form of communication with the outside world. These detainees are often referred to by human rights advocates as “ghost prisoners” because their whereabouts remain unknown for extended periods.

Taganrog: A Prison at the Center of the Investigation

One of the key locations examined by the investigation is SIZO-2, a detention facility in the Russian city of Taganrog.

According to testimonies collected by the project, former prisoners described the facility as one of the most brutal places within the detention network. Investigators used satellite imagery, procurement records, and witness accounts to examine how the prison expanded after the start of the war and became a major site for holding Ukrainian detainees.

Several former prisoners alleged that violence and intimidation were routine. The investigation also cited information from Ukrainian intelligence sources claiming that detainees were subjected to systematic abuse inside the facility. These allegations have not been independently verified by international observers, but they form a significant part of the evidence collected by the project.

Why the Findings Matter

The Viktoriia Project contributes to a growing body of evidence collected by journalists, human rights organizations, and international institutions investigating possible violations of international humanitarian law during the war in Ukraine.

Beyond the statistics, the investigation highlights the ongoing uncertainty faced by families searching for missing relatives. Many continue to seek answers about the fate of loved ones who disappeared during the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

By continuing the work of Viktoriia Roshchyna, the project aims not only to document individual stories but also to shed light on a detention system that remains largely hidden from public view.

FACT BOX

Project: Viktoriia Project

Published: 29 April 2025

Lead Organization: Forbidden Stories

Media Partners: 12 international news organizations

Estimated Ukrainian civilians in detention: 16,000–20,000

Documented detention locations: 186

Facilities where systematic torture was identified: 29

Focus: Enforced disappearances, secret detention, and alleged torture of Ukrainian civilians during the war in Ukraine

Key detention site investigated: SIZO-2

SOURCE

Forbidden Stories (2025). Lost in the Gray Zone: How Russia Secretly Disappears Thousands of Ukrainian Civilians.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Forbidden Stories network was founded to continue the work of journalists who have been killed, imprisoned, threatened, or silenced. Through international collaborations, it ensures that important investigations do not end when reporters are prevented from completing them.

The Viktoriia Project was launched following the death of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna and brought together reporters from multiple countries to investigate the detention and disappearance of Ukrainian civilians during the ongoing war.