Themes by tag: prisoners

Maksym Kolesnykov defended Ukraine during the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) when russia first attacked the East and occupied Crimea. On February 24, 2022, he joined the Ukrainian military once again. Alongside his fellow soldiers, he guarded a facility in Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast. In March 2022, Russians captured Maksym and held him captive for 10 months. He says that during his imprisonment, he endured starvation and torture.

Maksym returned to his homeland on February 4, 2023. A photo was taken during the prisoner exchange of Maksym gazing at an apple — a poignant moment, as he had not seen fresh fruit or vegetables during his captivity. This image quickly spread across the media and social networks.

After rehabilitation, he decided to return to service. Now, in collaboration with the charity foundation Vesta, Maksym gives lectures to social workers who assist veterans on how to communicate with former prisoners of war. The primary goal is to improve interactions with former captives and prevent retraumatization.

Interviews with Maksym Kolesnykov can be arranged online or in person in Kyiv with prior agreement.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Peaceful events are planned in 28 cities across Ukraine to raise awareness of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still in enemy captivity.

On August 23, events will be held in Arbuzynka, Okhtyrka, Pavlysh, Chernihiv, Irpin, Vinnytsia, and Shpola.

On August 24, events are planned in Kyiv, Krolevets, Korop, Pivdennoukrainsk, Mykolaiv, Uman, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Korosten, Slavuta, Cherkasy, Lozova, Kropyvnytskyi, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Rivne, Odesa, Shostka, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, and Poltava.

The events are organized by families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Recently released Ukrainian captives also often join these actions.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On August 16, Trukhaniv Island in Kyiv will host a race in solidarity with Ukrainian prisoners still held in russian captivity. Among the participants will be former prisoner of war Dmytro Kanupier, known by the call sign “Rasti.”

Organizers say the event aims both to keep public attention on those still awaiting release and to bring together a community of supporters.

Kanupier serves in the 12th Brigade of the Azov National Guard. In April 2022, he and his fellow soldiers defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Ordered to surrender in late May 2022, he was taken prisoner by russian forces. He returned to Ukraine on October 18, 2024, as part of a prisoner exchange.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

On August 9 and 10, peaceful rallies will take place across 29 cities in Ukraine to draw attention to the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war and those still missing in action. The campaign seeks to honor the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers held in russian captivity, and to mark three years since the deadly attack on the Olenivka detention center.

The rallies are being organized by families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison, with participation from former prisoners who have since returned home.

Demonstrations on August 9 will be held in: Arbuzynka, Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Irpin, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Lviv, and Poltava.

On August 10, events are planned in: Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Krolevets, Kremenchuk, Uman, Lozova, Mykolaiv, Korop, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Korosten, Slavuta, Cherkasy, Dolynska, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Uzhhorod, Shpola, Shostka, and Rivne.

Organizers are urging the public to join the call for justice and accountability, and to ensure that the plight of those held in captivity is not forgotten.

• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

A peaceful march titled “Ours Are Not Home Yet” is scheduled to take place in Kyiv on August 2 in solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers who are missing or held in captivity.

The event is intended to raise public and international awareness about the fate of service members who have yet to return home. Organizers say the march will call attention to the urgent need for action and accountability regarding those still unaccounted for.

The march is organized by the community of relatives of the 32nd Separate Motorized Brigade.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

A series of peaceful rallies will be held across Ukraine from July 26 to 29 to honor the defenders of Azovstal and other servicemembers still held in enemy captivity, and to mark the third anniversary of the deadly attack on the Olenivka prison camp. Events are planned in 38 cities nationwide.

On July 26, demonstrations will take place in Arbuzynka, Okhtyrka, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Irpin, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, and Zaporizhia.

On July 27, the campaign continues in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Krolevets, Lozova, Uman, Mykolaiv, Korop, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Korosten, Cherkasy, Rivne, Dolynska, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Kovel, Shostka, Chernivtsi, Uzhhorod, Slavuta, and Kremenchuk.

On July 28, events are set for Pavlohrad, Bila Tserkva, Poltava, Truskavets, and Lviv.

On July 29, the campaign will conclude with a gathering in Odesa.

The events are being organized by families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Ukrainians who have been released from captivity frequently join the rallies to show solidarity and raise awareness.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The Museum of War, in partnership with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, will hold a conference and film screening to mark the third anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Olenivka prison camp. The event is set for August 2 at the Kyiv War Museum. 

The program will feature:

– the opening of a photo exhibition showcasing images of freed Ukrainian prisoners;

– a conference titled “The Memory of Olenivka Will Not Fade”;

– a screening of the documentary People of Steel, followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Serhii Fomenko.

Among the attendees will be servicemembers of the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, government officials, members of the OLENIVKA Community, released prisoners of war, active-duty military personnel, and the families and friends of Ukrainian POWs.

Accreditation is required to attend the event. 

For reference: In the early hours of July 29, 2022, a powerful explosion ripped through a prison colony in the russian-occupied village of Olenivka. At least 53 Ukrainian prisoners, many of them defenders of Azovstal, were killed in the overcrowded barracks. More than 130 others were injured.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Oleksandra Mazur, head of the Olenivka Community NGO, has spent more than two years searching for the truth about her loved one held in russian captivity. Since May 2022, she has been fighting to keep his memory, and the memory of others like him, alive.

Her partner, Azov Regiment combat engineer Yaroslav Otrok, was among the Ukrainian defenders captured at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Following orders from his commanders, he and his fellow soldiers surrendered and were taken to a makeshift detention center in the occupied town of Olenivka, Donetsk region.

On July 29, 2022, Yaroslav was killed in a blast that tore through the prison. Ukrainian authorities have described the attack as a terrorist act, accusing russian forces of deliberately targeting prisoners of war.

In the days that followed, Oleksandra saw Yaroslav’s name on a list of the wounded. But hope soon gave way to devastating news. In September, a witness who survived the explosion told her Yaroslav’s injuries had been fatal. A month later, the Azov Patronage Service confirmed he was among the dead. His body had been returned by russia.

Since then, Oleksandra has dedicated herself to the Olenivka Community NGO, supporting other families of POWs and calling attention to the crimes committed in Olenivka. Her efforts helped pave the way for official recognition: on July 22, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution establishing July 28 as the Day of Remembrance for Ukrainian Defenders who were executed, tortured, or died in captivity.

Mazur remains committed to telling these stories. She is available for interviews online or in person, by prior arrangement, in Kamianets-Podilskyi or Kyiv.

• dead
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Khmelnytskyi
• Kyiv

For over three years, Oleksandra waited for her father, a soldier held in russian captivity. All that time, the young woman searched for any scraps of information — reaching out to relatives of freed POWs, making posts on social media — but mostly, she was met with silence.

On June 19, 2025, Oleksandra received the news she had longed for: her father had been freed from captivity and returned to Ukraine. After that, she decided to support others still searching for their loved ones and waiting for prisoner exchanges. With her father’s permission, she made a social media post asking people to send her photos of their relatives in captivity. She shows these pictures to her father, and he tries to recall whether he saw these people while imprisoned.

Oleksandra receives hundreds of messages with photos. The freed defender often asks for the person’s date of birth, as in captivity, everyone begins to look alike. In just two weeks, Oleksandra’s father managed to recognize three people. Of course, the information may not always be accurate.

Oleksandra helps others without expecting anything in return because she understands the pain of waiting for a loved one to return from captivity.

You can speak with Oleksandra online or in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Kyiv

Mykyta Shastun joined the military several years before the full-scale invasion. He served in the 56th Brigade, fought on the outskirts of Donetsk Airport, and trained to become a sergeant.

After the full-scale invasion began, he and his brother Ihor joined the Azov Regiment to defend Mariupol. On April 1, his brother was killed. In May 2022, Mykyta and his comrades were ordered to lay down their weapons and surrender.

He ended up in the Olenivka colony in the occupied Donetsk oblast. He recalls extreme hardship: prisoners starving due to a lack of food and water. Soon, the Azov fighters were moved to another barracks where an explosion rocked the facility at night. Miraculously, Mykyta survived with only a concussion. He helped wounded comrades, though the russians provided no medical aid. He was then transferred from Olenivka to Taganrog, russia, before finally returning to Ukraine on December 31, 2022.

Journalists can contact Mykyta Shastun online by prior arrangement.

Background: The defense of Mariupol lasted 86 days, 82 of which were in complete encirclement. From May 16 to 20, 2022, the Mariupol garrison received orders to cease defending the city and surrender.

On the night of July 29, 2022, russia committed a terrorist act blowing up the Olenivka penal colony barracks holding Ukrainian POWs. At least 50 defenders of Azovstal were killed, and more than a hundred were injured.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes