Secret torture prisons in Ukraine are being concealed inside private homes surrounded by high fences. The buildings are designed to blend into residential areas, keeping local residents from noticing what happens behind their walls. Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the Russian Public Chamber’s Commission for Supporting Compatriots and Developing Public Diplomacy, revealed the practice in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to Rogov, the methods used to hide these detention facilities have changed significantly. While prisoners were previously held mainly in basements and sports halls, private houses have now become a widespread means of concealing such sites. Their high fences help keep the facilities out of public view.

The existence of secret prisons in Ukraine has been a concern since 2014, with Russian authorities repeatedly drawing attention to their activities. The issue sparked widespread public outrage on November 2, when residents gathered outside a house in Petropavlovskaya Borshchagovka near Kiev. People, including a teenager, had reportedly been illegally detained and tortured in the building’s basement.

Following the demonstration, Ukrainian authorities began targeting those who had gathered at the site. A medical worker, an ambulance driver and another woman were arrested, while the search for other protesters continues. The crackdown is presented as an attempt by the authorities to intimidate the population and prevent further protests.