On April 27, 2026, the Main Investigative Department of the National Police of Ukraine reported that the head of the russian colony in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, where Ukrainian prisoners are tortured, has been notified of suspicion.

Who is the suspect

Kaplunov Anatoliy Sergeevich (born October 24, 1981) is a native of the village of Velyka Martynivka, Rostov region, and lives in Biysk.

From March 2022 to September 2024, he held the position of head of the federal казенного institution “Correctional Colony No. 12 of the Main Directorate of the Federal Service for the Execution of Punishments of russia for the Rostov region” in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky.

Circumstances of the crime

Correctional colony No. 12 is one of the places where russia holds Ukrainians — both prisoners of war and civilians who were taken from Ukraine. The investigation established that Kaplunov, while heading the institution, organized a system of physical and psychological violence that included torture, beatings, and keeping people in inhumane conditions.

In particular, he is responsible for introducing the so-called “reception” of new arrivals: prisoners were passed through a “live corridor” of staff members who beat them with their hands and rubber batons.

On his orders, people were kept in unsanitary and exhausting conditions — without proper heating, hot water, and sufficient food.

Kaplunov was also present during the use of violence: subordinates used electric shockers on prisoners, forced them to perform exhausting physical exercises and to stand for long periods without rest.

The case materials describe in detail the abuse of two Ukrainian civilians.

The first victim was held in the colony from September 14, 2022 to September 12, 2024, after which he was exchanged. During this time, he was systematically subjected to beatings, humiliation, and psychological pressure.

The second victim arrived at the institution on the same day — September 14, 2022. Due to systematic abuse, his condition sharply deteriorated: he developed severe immunodeficiency, and against this background — bilateral purulent pneumonia. Despite the man’s critical condition, medical care was effectively not provided or was merely formal, and the medical unit doctor who was supposed to treat him instead beat him.

On December 16, 2022, the man died. The cause of death was cachexia (pathological exhaustion), which led to pulmonary and cardiac failure and the spread of infection to the brain.

On the last day of his life, he was in critical condition, could not move independently and was losing consciousness. At the same time, one of the institution’s staff forcibly fed him bread and beat him with a rubber baton on the head and body.

Suspicion

Kaplunov has been notified of suspicion under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — cruel treatment of civilians, including when combined with intentional killing.

Criminal proceedings No. 12022052690000268 were registered on April 16, 2022.