Freed American Describes Torture in Russian Prison, Witnesses Say

WHO:

BBC - A US citizen was held alongside Ukrainian prisoners in a Russian jail.

BBC News - Ukrainians held alongside the American said they witnessed Russian guards abusing him.

WHAT:

BBC News - The former Ukrainian prisoners said they witnessed the American being beaten and sexually humiliated by Russian guards.

BBC - A former prisoner said the American was weak, could barely move, and needed help with bandaging at a medical centre.

BBC - The former prisoner said: “Everything was rotten. We all had scabies. It was very, very difficult for him. I even bandaged him once at the medical centre, because the doctor didn't want to do it. He just couldn't do it himself, and I had to help. He was quite weak then and he almost couldn't move.”

WHERE:

BBC News - The American was detained in a Russian jail.

BBC - The former prisoner described helping bandage the American at a medical centre.

HOW:

BBC News - Ukrainians held alongside the American reported witnessing beatings and sexual humiliation by Russian guards.

BBC - A fellow prisoner said he helped bandage the American after the doctor did not do it.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:22 UTC)

A US citizen held in a Russian jail alongside Ukrainian prisoners was beaten and sexually humiliated by Russian guards, according to former prisoners who say they witnessed the abuse. One former prisoner described how badly weakened the American became, saying he could barely move and needed help with bandaging at a medical centre. The witness said the doctor did not want to treat him, so the prisoner stepped in and bandaged him himself. He recalled that the American was very weak and almost unable to move. The former prisoner also described the conditions in the jail as rotten, saying everyone had scabies and that the situation was especially difficult for the American. The accounts come from Ukrainians who were held alongside him in the Russian facility.