An Arria-formula meeting scheduled for 10 August at the United Nations will address the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs), civilian detainees, and the recruitment of foreign nationals in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Organised by Latvia and the UK, with co-sponsorship from Ukraine, the session aims to highlight alleged violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights, drawing on testimonies from survivors and findings from UN monitoring bodies.
Accountability for Detention and Human Rights Violations
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has documented systematic abuses against those held in Russian custody. According to a September 2025 HRMMU report, 92 percent of 216 released civilian detainees interviewed since June 2023 provided consistent accounts of torture or ill-treatment. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (COI) further noted in March 2025 that Russian authorities used sexual violence as a form of torture in detention facilities, noting that most victims were men, though cases involving female detainees were also recorded.
Briefers for the session include Leniie Umerova, a Crimean Tatar activist detained for nearly two years on espionage charges, and Khuan Alberto Leyva Garsiya, a Ukrainian soldier who spent over three years in Russian captivity after defending the Azovstal steel plant. These accounts are expected to underscore the urgency of calls for full and unimpeded access for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to detention facilities, an access point currently lacking in Russian-controlled areas according to the ICRC’s 2025 annual report.
Did you know?
As of 10 June, Ukraine had secured the return of 9,446 individuals from Russian captivity, including 457 civilians. However, the official Ukrainian register of missing persons lists more than 16,000 civilians from territories held by Russia.
The Recruitment of Foreign Nationals
The meeting will also examine the recruitment of foreign nationals into the Russian armed forces, a practice the COI reported involves citizens from at least 17 countries. Many recruits have allegedly been lured through deceptive promises of civilian employment. This topic remains diplomatically sensitive, as several nations—including China, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—have been identified by Ukrainian authorities or UN mechanisms as countries of origin for these recruits.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged in August 2025 that foreign nationals from China and Pakistan were fighting for Russia in the Kharkiv region, both nations have rejected these claims. China stated it instructs its citizens to avoid conflict zones, while Pakistan noted that no verifiable evidence has been provided to substantiate the allegations. Russia, meanwhile, maintains that its laws permit foreign nationals to enlist voluntarily and has accused Ukraine of employing its own foreign fighters.
Diplomatic Perspectives and Future Trends
Russia is expected to contest the focus of the meeting, likely framing it as a politicization of human rights and IHL. In previous sessions, such as the January 2025 Arria-formula meeting, Russian officials rejected COI findings and pointed to allegations regarding the treatment of Russian POWs in Ukrainian custody. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia has consistently challenged the reliability of reports detailing systematic abuse, asserting that Russian military codes strictly prohibit such behavior.
For the international community, the path forward involves strengthening the implementation of existing obligations for the protection of detainees. Member states are expected to argue that humanitarian measures—specifically the exchange of POWs and the release of arbitrarily detained civilians—should remain insulated from broader political negotiations. The meeting, to be held in the ECOSOC Chamber at 10 am EDT, will serve as a platform to push for credible investigations into reported executions, which the HRMMU noted spiked in November and December 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an Arria-formula meeting? It is an informal, confidential meeting which enables the UN Security Council members to have a frank and private exchange of views with persons who they believe might have relevant insights on a specific topic.
- How does the ICRC gain access to detainees? The ICRC seeks permission from detaining authorities to conduct visits. While the ICRC conducted 75 visits in Ukraine in 2025, it has not recorded similar access to detention facilities in Russia.
- What are the main allegations against Russia regarding foreign fighters? UN reports and Ukrainian officials allege that Russia uses deceptive practices to lure nationals from at least 17 countries into its armed forces, often promising civilian jobs.
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