Themes by tag: prisoners

To raise awareness for the defenders of “Azovstal” and other service members still held in enemy captivity, peaceful rallies are planned across 29 cities.

On June 13, events will take place in Okhtyrka, Svitlovodsk, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Volochysk, Bila Tserkva, Ostroh, Lviv, and Dnipro.

On June 14, rallies are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Kremenchuk, Korop, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Dolynska, Poltava, Lozova, Kharkiv, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Rivne, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The events are organized by the families of the Mariupol Garrison prisoners of war. Released Ukrainian POWs themselves frequently join these solidarity actions.

• military
• prisoners

On June 13, a peaceful rally titled “Civilians Are Waiting. The World Must Act” will be held in Kyiv. The NGO “Civilians in Captivity” is inviting international media, diplomats, and representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend an event dedicated to Ukrainian civilians who have been held in captivity for more than five years without the possibility of exchange, access to normal life, or basic human rights.

The event highlights serious violations of international law by russia, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which guarantee the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Organizers are calling on world leaders, international organizations, and human rights institutions to take immediate action to secure the return of Ukrainian civilians.

Representatives of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as families of civilian hostages, are expected to attend.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

Alla and Oleksiy began building their life together in 2021. As a serviceman in the “Azov” Regiment, Oleksiy was frequently deployed on missions.

On the night of February 24, 2022, the couple was scheduled to fly abroad for a vacation. However, just a day prior, the fighter was urgently deployed to Mariupol. It was there that Oleksiy witnessed the beginning of the full-scale invasion, and in May 2022, he and his fellow brothers-in-arms entered captivity following orders to leave the Azovstal steelworks.

Since then, Alla, who never had the chance to officially become Oleksiy’s wife, has been fighting for his freedom and return to Ukraine. For four years now, alongside Oleksiy’s mother, Oksana, she has been anxiously awaiting every prisoner exchange. In 2024, alongside other relatives of captured Azov fighters, Alla traveled to the Vatican, where she met with Pope Francis. The young woman continuously initiates meetings with the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the National Guard (NSU) command, and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Currently, Oleksiy remains illegally sentenced in russia to 29 years in a maximum-security prison. He faces fabricated charges of shooting a civilian woman in Mariupol and committing acts of terrorism.

Interviews with Alla can be arranged by prior agreement, either online or in person within the Kyiv region.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

The research presentation “After Captivity: What Released Civilians Face” will take place in Kyiv on June 9.

The study was prepared by the Civil Society Protection Foundation “Civis Fortis” in cooperation with the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation.

Finding housing, medical treatment, and restoring identity documents are just some of the challenges awaiting Ukrainian civilians upon their release from russian captivity. How do former hostages navigate this journey? Is there comprehensive state support available for them? What changes need to be implemented in the fields of medical, social, and legal assistance?

Speakers:

• Anastasiia Odintsova, Legal Analyst at Civis Fortis;
• Maxym Parashchevin, Expert at the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation;
• Kostiantyn Davydenko, survivor of russian captivity;
• Olena Yahupova, survivor of russian captivity and forced labor;
• Tetiana Katrychenko, Head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights.

Media accreditation is required to attend.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

On June 13, a peaceful rally titled “Civilians Are Waiting. The World Must Act” will be held in Kyiv. The NGO “Civilians in Captivity” is inviting international media, diplomats, and representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend an event dedicated to Ukrainian civilians who have been held in captivity for more than five years without the possibility of exchange, access to normal life, or basic human rights.

The event highlights serious violations of international law by russia, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which guarantee the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Organizers are calling on world leaders, international organizations, and human rights institutions to take immediate action to secure the return of Ukrainian civilians.

Representatives of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as families of civilian hostages, are expected to attend.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

Peaceful rallies in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing persons will be held in 27 cities across Ukraine to remind the public about the defenders of Azovstal and other servicemen who remain in captivity.

On May 30, rallies are scheduled in Okhtyrka, Uspenska, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Poltava, Volochysk, Dnipro and Pavlohrad.

On May 31, events will take place in Kyiv, Krolevets, Yuzhnoukrainsk, Kremenchuk, Mykolaiv, Korop, Ovruch, Obukhiv, Dolynska, Lozova, Kharkiv, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Rivne, Chernivtsi, Lviv and Odesa.

The events are organized by families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Ukrainians released from captivity also frequently take part in the rallies.

• prisoners

The United Nations has for the first time added russia and Israel to its annual blacklist of parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). The organization documented 310 verified cases of CRSV involving prisoners of war and civilian detainees in russia and in russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Most victims were men.

Since late 2024, the Alumni (Graduates) network — which unites men who survived captivity and torture, alongside groups such as SEMA-Ukraine, 29 December, and Numo, Sestry! — had been advocating for the decision. Oleksii Sivak, founder of the NGO Alumni, says the move is only the beginning of a long path toward real justice and accountability for russia.

Interviews with Oleksii can be arranged in Kyiv, Kherson or online by prior appointment.

Background: Oleksii Sivak is from Kherson, a city that was under russian occupation. A former sailor, he survived captivity and torture. He currently heads the NGO Alumni, which was created to support Ukrainians affected by russian aggression, particularly survivors of torture and conflict-related sexual violence. The organization focuses specifically on supporting civilian men.

• casualties
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kherson
• Kyiv

Ruslan and Oleksandr were mobilized before the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They were stationed in Mariupol when the war began, defended the city and were later taken captive alongside their fellow servicemen. For three years, they sewed clothes in a russian penal colony.

After returning from captivity, the veterans met Maksym Zakharchenko while sheltering together during an air raid alert at a rehabilitation center.

Maksym joined the military at the age of 18, returning from Poland, where his family had relocated after the start of the full-scale invasion. He later left the military due to multiple injuries and concussions.

The three veterans eventually decided to start their own business — a sewing factory called Volotsiuhy (Vagabonds).

They launched production in Kyiv three months ago and are already fulfilling large orders and partnering with established brands. Maksym, Ruslan and Oleksandr plan to expand production and are hiring new employees, including both civilians and veterans.

Interviews with the Volotsiuhy team can be arranged online or in person in Kyiv by prior appointment.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

On May 31 in Bucha, Kyiv region, the event “Match of Expectation: Every Voice Saves” will take place. As part of the event, the Ukrainian national veterans’ team will play an advocacy football match against the Kyiv regional team to draw attention to the families of missing and captured Ukrainian defenders.

The Ukrainian national veterans’ team will include well-known Ukrainian football players and former professional players: Andriy Biba, Yevhen Seleznyov, Yevhen Khacheridi, Serhiy Nazarenko, Oleksiy Bielik, Mykola Morozyuk, Yuriy Maksymov, Eduard Tsykhmeistruk, Oleh Sobutskyi, Volodymyr Lysenko, Mykola Ishchenko, Viacheslav Sviderskyi, Volodymyr Bondarenko, and Serhii Pohorilyi.

The Kyiv regional team will consist of war veterans, service members, volunteers, representatives of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, the Kyiv Regional Council, local communities, the National Police in Kyiv region, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

A symbolic installation will be created in the stadium stands: military uniforms will be placed on 500 seats as a symbol of presence. Each seat will represent a defender whose fate remains unknown and a family that continues to wait. Nearby, photographs of missing soldiers, their words, and links to personal stories will be displayed.

Before the match, participants will form a circle of solidarity around the pitch with lit torches. The first kick of the ball will be taken by a child of a missing defender together with a man from Bucha who was released from captivity.

Within the “Match of Expectation: Every Voice Saves” initiative, families and relatives of missing defenders will be able to receive free legal and psychological support from partner organizations and, if they wish and consent, fill out a needs assessment form for further assistance and follow-up.

Journalists must register in advance to attend the event.

Background: The advocacy event is organized by the NGO “Voices of Silence.” It is an association of families of missing and captured Ukrainian defenders, founded in Bucha by Nataliia Ilyina, the wife of a missing defender.

• military
• prisoners
• psychological support
• Kyiv

Oleksandr Hurzhov, a resident of Mariupol, signed a contract with Ukraine’s Defense Forces in 2020. He was in his hometown when russia launched its full-scale invasion. Within days, he was wounded and later taken captive. russian forces repeatedly transferred him between detention sites, subjected him to torture and deprived him of food. After three years in captivity, Hurzhov weighed just 45 kilograms.

On May 25, 2025, Hurzhov returned home as part of a prisoner exchange. He recalls being struck by the appearance of russian prisoners of war, who “looked like normal people,” while Ukrainians returned from russian captivity as “living skeletons.” One of the first comforts he remembers after the exchange was taking a hot shower. In the prison colony, detainees had to wash themselves in the toilet using a 1.5-liter bottle of water.

Even before his captivity, Hurzhov loved music and enjoyed singing karaoke. Since returning home, he says he has attended more concerts than during the rest of his life combined.

Oleksandr Hurzhov is available for interviews both online and in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv