Inside Kremlin’s Hidden Torture Camp for Ukrainians in Belarus
Executive Summary
A comprehensive investigation has revealed the existence of a Russian filtration camp in Naroulia, Belarus, used during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to torture and detain hundreds of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. The camp, located near the Chornobyl exclusion zone, operated with apparent approval from Belarusian authorities, making Belarus complicit in Russian war crimes. Testimonies detail severe torture, forced propaganda participation, and the exploitation of detainees, including minors. As Belarus strengthens its ties with Russia, its role in these crimes and increasing domestic repression put the regime under international scrutiny while raising regional security concerns.
Analysis
The filtration camp in Naroulia, operated by Russian forces in a repurposed Belarusian state facility, underscores the systemic nature of Kremlin war crimes. Civilians and POWs were subjected to physical torture, malnutrition, and psychological abuse. Former detainees recount beatings, electric shocks, and public humiliation, including minors forcibly taken from occupied areas. Satellite imagery and testimony confirmed the camp’s operations, which extended to other state-run sites in Naroulia, such as parking lots and industrial spaces. This facility was part of Russia’s broader strategy of forced civilian deportations, hostage diplomacy, and psychological warfare, with Belarus actively enabling these atrocities.
Belarus’s involvement extends beyond logistical support for Russian war efforts. President Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Russian troops and drones to operate within Belarusian territory, greenlit the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, and participated in joint military drills like Zapad 2025. These actions solidify Belarus as a key ally in Moscow’s regional ambitions while increasing its reliance on Russia for economic and political survival. Despite this alignment, Belarus continues to present itself as a neutral party by facilitating POW exchanges and proposing peace initiatives, a balancing act designed to maintain some diplomatic channels with the West and Ukraine.
The exposure of the Naroulia camp comes amid a broader crackdown in Belarus on dissenters showing solidarity with Ukraine. Over 1,600 individuals have been detained, with many facing torture, forced psychiatric treatment, and long prison sentences. Simultaneously, Belarus has detained Ukrainians under fabricated charges, further entrenching its role in Russia’s repressive apparatus. The systematic deportation of Ukrainian minors, under the guise of humanitarian aid, adds another dimension of complicity to Belarus’s actions, with international law experts labeling these acts as potential crimes against humanity.
On the geopolitical stage, Belarus navigates increasing isolation. Lukashenko’s regime faces sanctions from the West while banking on a Trump-led U.S. administration to reduce international pressure. Lukashenko’s alignment with Moscow has strained relations with NATO and neighboring states, while his internal repression has all but silenced opposition. The discovery of the Naroulia camp adds to calls for accountability, potentially escalating Belarus’s isolation and its classification as a direct aggressor under international law.
While Belarus continues to support Moscow’s war machine, the revelations about Naroulia deepen concerns about the region’s security dynamics. Russia’s ability to leverage Belarus as a staging ground and partner in systemic human rights abuses highlights the intertwined fates of both regimes. For Belarus, the growing evidence of complicity in war crimes risks further eroding its precarious position, potentially drawing stronger actions from the international community.