Investigation names surgeons suspected of burning "Glory to Russia" onto Ukrainian POW's body
It has emerged that doctors from Russia's Krasnodar – Yury Kuznetsov and Andrei Kryachko – may have been involved in burning the words "Glory to Russia" onto the skin of Ukrainian serviceman Andrii Pereverziev while he was in Russian captivity.
Source: Skhemy (Schemes), a Radio Liberty investigative project
Details: Skhemy has established that since the start of the full-scale invasion, Kuznetsov and Kryachko have regularly travelled to the occupied city of Donetsk, delivered humanitarian aid and carried out surgical operations.
The investigators said the words "Glory to Russia" and the letter Z, a Russian symbol of war, had been branded onto Pereverziev's skin on 24 February 2024 during an operation at the Donetsk Clinical Territorial Medical Association, the largest hospital in Donbas.
The facility is regularly visited by Kuznetsov and Kryachko, along with colleagues from the so-called "Friends of Donbas Medicine" group, an association of around 20 Russian doctors from across the country.
Evidence gathered by the journalists indicates that Kuznetsov and Kryachko were likely present at the Donetsk Clinical Territorial Medical Association and performed an operation on Pereverziev when the words were burned onto his abdomen.
This is supported by photos and videos from the hospital that were posted by Russian surgeons, video metadata, border-crossing records for Kryachko, a calendar in one image indicating 24 February as well as testimony from Donetsk medical staff that the Russian doctors were behind this and that they frequently work at the Donetsk Clinical Territorial Medical Association.
Background:
- Pereverziev was brought back as part of a "1,000 for 1,000" prisoner exchange agreed upon between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul in May 2025.
- On 9 June, Clash Report released a photograph showing a Ukrainian soldier recently released from captivity with numerous scars. The words "Glory to Russia" were also burned onto his skin by the Russians
- Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, confirmed that the photograph is authentic.
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