In western Ukraine, workers at prisoner of war (POW) camps face complex emotional and ethical challenges as they care for captured Russian soldiers amid an ongoing conflict marked by deep hostility and trauma. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, hundreds of Russian POWs have been held in camps in cities such as Lviv, where Ukrainian staff manage their custody and well-being under intense scrutiny and personal strain.
The roles of these camp workers vary, with motivations ranging from a commitment to humanitarian principles and adherence to international law to individual coping mechanisms and financial necessity. Oleh, a 58-year-old guard at a Lviv-based POW facility, described his role as a way to confront and process his personal hatred toward Russian forces. He keeps his employment secret from his family, many of whom continue to fight on the front lines, highlighting the personal conflict borne by those working closely with the enemy.
Ivan, a camp administrator involved in establishing Ukraine’s first POW sites following the invasion, noted that dealing with Russian prisoners “was uncomfortable for everyone” due to the atrocities witnessed in places like Bucha and other areas affected by Russia’s military actions. He emphasized the importance of maintaining professional standards and enforcing policies that prohibit cruelty, aligning Ukraine’s treatment of POWs with international humanitarian law.
Ukraine has sought to underscore the distinction between its detention practices and those of Russia, which has been widely documented for the systematic mistreatment and torture of prisoners. While Ukraine has faced allegations of harsh treatment, particularly at the point of capture, independent monitors suggest such incidents are not representative of official policy. The contrast is visible in prisoner exchanges, where Ukrainian captives often appear skeletal or wounded, while Russian soldiers are presented in relatively good health, fueling strong emotions among Ukrainians directly involved with POW care.
Organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations regularly inspect Ukrainian camps, providing oversight and training to staff on Geneva Convention standards. According to a recent UN report, the conditions in Ukrainian detention facilities generally meet international humanitarian requirements and have improved over time. Journalists also receive largely unsupervised access to camps such as Lviv, where no evidence of systematic abuse has been observed by independent observers.
Despite these assurances, working with Russian POWs remains emotionally taxing for many. Roman, who manages nutrition for prisoners, has struggled to reconcile his personal losses in the war with his professional responsibilities. Following the death of a close relative at the hands of Russian forces, he took a leave of absence to manage his grief but later returned, maintaining minimal interaction with the prisoners to preserve emotional boundaries.
Similarly, Robert, a camp medic, initially grappled with guilt and internal conflict about providing care to enemy soldiers. Over time, he came to view his role as a unique contribution to Ukraine’s war effort, though the emotional burden of the conflict and its human cost remains ever present.
The experiences of these workers illustrate the difficult balance Ukraine seeks to maintain: upholding its legal and moral obligations under international law while confronting the human consequences of a brutal and ongoing war.