In a shocking revelation, the European Parliament is poised to vote this week on a resolution condemning Russia’s brutal detention of thousands of Ukrainian civilians. Estimates suggest that between 10,000 and 30,000 innocent individuals are languishing in Russian prisons and camps, many subjected to horrific torture. This vote follows the distressing screening of the documentary “Prisoners: The System of Terror,” which exposes a clandestine network of detention centers in Russian-occupied territories.

The documentary highlights the harrowing experiences of detainees like Alexander Toasovs, a Ukrainian activist who endured a year of captivity under inhumane conditions. Tortured without justification, he and others were forced to endure agonizing treatments, including tasering and brutal beatings, with little hope of legal recourse. The United Nations reports that a staggering 91% of Ukrainian detainees have faced torture, underscoring the systematic nature of these atrocities.

As the European Parliament prepares to take action, human rights advocates are urging immediate intervention. The plight of these civilians has been largely ignored, trapped in a legal black hole where international protections fail to reach them. Families are left in anguish, unaware of their loved ones’ fates. Tiana, a mother whose son Domian is imprisoned under fabricated charges, pleads for his safe return, fearing for his life as he suffers severe health issues in captivity.

With only around 600 civilians rescued so far, the urgency for action is palpable. Activists insist that the resolution could increase political pressure on Russia, drawing attention to the forgotten victims of this war. As the world watches, the question remains: will the European Parliament’s vote lead to any meaningful change for those enduring unimaginable horrors in Russian detention? The stakes could not be higher; lives hang in the balance.