Themes by tag: prisoners

To remind the public about the defenders of Azovstal and other Ukrainian troops still held in russian captivity, peaceful rallies are planned in 27 cities.

On May 16, rallies will take place in Svitlovodsk, Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Volochysk, Bila Tserkva, Poltava, Dnipro, Pavlohrad, Lviv and Ostroh.

On May 17, events are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Mykolaiv, Korop, Obukhiv, Ovruch, Kremenchuk, Dolynska, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Lozova, Uzhhorod, Rivne, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Odesa and Ivano-Frankivsk.

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

• prisoners

Peaceful rallies aimed at drawing attention to the defenders of Azovstal and other Ukrainian servicemen still held in russian captivity are scheduled to take place in 27 cities across Ukraine.

On May 9, rallies will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Pavlysh, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Volochysk, Bila Tserkva, Dnipro, Pavlohrad and Lviv.

On May 10, events are planned in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Kremenchuk, Uman, Mykolaiv, Korosten, Obukhiv, Ovruch, Rivne, Dolynska, Cherkasy, Lozova, Kovel, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Poltava and Odesa.

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

• prisoners

Vadym Letunov, 34, is a corporal serving with Ukraine’s 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade. In late February, heavy enemy shelling destroyed his position and killed one of his comrades. Barefoot, Letunov managed to reach the nearest surviving dugout — only to discover it was occupied by a russian soldier, a former prisoner mobilized to fight against Ukraine.

Because the occupier was armed, Letunov effectively became his captive. Realizing that survival depended on gaining the soldier’s trust, he spent two weeks carefully navigating the situation. According to Letunov, the russian soldier showed severe mood swings and repeatedly threatened to execute him.

Conditions inside the dugout were extreme. Food and water were nearly gone, and Ukrainian command had already informed Letunov’s mother that he was presumed dead.

Over time, Letunov convinced the russian soldier that their only chance of survival was to surrender to Ukrainian forces. When supplies finally ran out, the two moved toward Ukrainian positions.

To avoid being mistaken for the enemy by Ukrainian drones, Letunov made a sign displaying his call sign and brigade number. When a Ukrainian drone appeared overhead, he dropped to his knees beside the sign to identify himself.

Ukrainian troops first delivered food, water, and a radio by drone. Shortly afterward, an armored vehicle arrived, evacuating Letunov and taking the russian soldier into captivity. Letunov is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Odesa after losing a toe due to gangrene caused by the conditions in the dugout.

Vadym Letunov is available for interviews online or in person in Odesa by prior arrangement and with approval from his press officer.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Odesa

Peaceful events are planned in 27 cities to remind the public about the defenders of Azovstal and other Ukrainian service members who remain in enemy captivity.

On May 2, rallies will take place in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Volochysk, Ostroh, Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Lviv.
On May 3, events are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Kremenchuk, Mykolaiv, Korop, Obukhiv, Ovruch, Dolynska, Cherkasy, Lozova, Kharkiv, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odesa.

The events are organized by families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Ukrainians who have been released from captivity also often join the rallies.

• prisoners

On May 2, a rally in support of prisoners of war and those missing will take place in Bucha, Kyiv region, under the title “Voices of Silence.”

Such peaceful gatherings have been held in the city since early 2026. Everyone who cares is encouraged to join to support Ukrainian defenders and their families, who are waiting every day for their loved ones to return.

Background: The rallies are organized by the NGO Voices of Silence, founded by the wives, mothers, sisters, and children of those who went missing while defending Ukraine.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

A rehabilitation sailing trip will begin in Greece on May 9, bringing together 25 Ukrainian service members with amputations as well as former prisoners of war. Participants will cover around 200 nautical miles.

“Titans Under Sail” is a charitable project that offers Ukrainian defenders physical and psychological rehabilitation through sailing.

During the seven-day journey, participants learn to operate a catamaran, face the challenges of the open sea and work as a team. The experience helps restore mobility and supports psychological recovery and reintegration.

Media can cover the sailing rehabilitation program online or in person in Athens, Greece. Interviews with participants and organizers are available upon request, and photo and video materials can also be provided.

Background: In 2025, similar rehabilitation sailing trips took place in the Canary Islands, Greece and Croatia. The project is run by the NGO Titans Under Sail.

• casualties
• culture
• military
• prisoners

Vladyslav and Stanislav Chuhuienko are twin brothers from Zaporizhzhia. From an early age, Stanislav dreamed of becoming a soldier, and his brother supported his decision. Together, they entered the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy in Lviv and later joined the Ukrainian Marine Corps.

The Chuhuienko brothers fought in the Donetsk sector and were in Mariupol at the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion. During one of the missions, Vladyslav sustained shrapnel wounds to his legs. He was evacuated to a hospital and later transferred to the Illich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, where the brigade command was stationed.

On April 4, 2022, Vladyslav and Stanislav were taken prisoner. At first, they were held together, but were later separated. In captivity, Vladyslav was subjected to torture, beatings, and electric shocks. He was returned to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange on August 14, 2025. While in captivity, he believed his brother had already returned home. Only after his release did he learn that Stanislav remains in russian captivity. Vladyslav now takes part in rallies supporting prisoners of war and missing persons and is waiting for the return of his closest person.

Vladyslav Chuhuienko can be contacted both online and in person in Lviv by prior arrangement.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Lviv

To draw attention to the defenders of Azovstal and other Ukrainian servicemen still held in captivity, peaceful rallies will take place in 27 cities across the country.

On April 18, events will be held in Svitlovodsk, Zaporizhzhia, Okhtyrka, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Ovruch, Poltava, Shpola, Volochysk, Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Lviv.

On April 19, rallies are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Korop, Obukhiv, Kharkiv, Dolynska, Cherkasy, Lozova, Uzhhorod, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Rivne, Chernivtsi, and Odesa.

The events are organized by families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Former Ukrainian captives who have been released from detention also often join the rallies.

• prisoners

The NGO “Steel Hearts of Relatives of the 32nd Separate Mechanised Brigade” invites families of missing persons, prisoners of war, and all concerned citizens to join a joint car rally in Kyiv on April 25.

This will be more than just a column of vehicles. It is the voice of families who live each day between hope and pain — the voice of those waiting for the return of their loved ones, missing in action or held in captivity by Ukrainian servicemen.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

Before the full-scale invasion, 29-year-old Mykola Petrovskyi lived with his father and grandmother in Kherson. Mykola is disabled — after a car accident, part of his left foot was amputated and he now wears a prosthesis.

When Kherson was occupied by russian forces, Mykola became a volunteer, helping people in the city. One day, russian security forces abducted him from his home.

In September 2023, the so-called “Supreme Court of Crimea” sentenced Mykola Petrovskyi to 16 years in a maximum-security penal colony, falsely accusing him of “espionage”.

Letters from Mykola reveal that he was tortured in captivity, beaten, denied proper medical care, which is crucial for a person with a disability, and starved. According to the Center for Civil Liberties, Mykola’s health condition has deteriorated.

Read his full story here.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Mykola’s mother (online) and with his lawyer and human rights experts in Kyiv (in person).

• casualties
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv