Themes by tag: 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

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

The presentation of the project “Made in russia. Delivered Into Captivity” will take place in Kyiv on May 22 with the participation of Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

The project was developed by the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders in cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR), and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Registration is required to attend the event. The venue will be disclosed to accredited journalists.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The goal of the event is to remind society about those who remain in russian captivity and to support the families of prisoners of war.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Participants:

– Nataliia Yepifanova, Head of the NGO Warriors Liberation;

– Nataliia Kravtsova, mother of a captured “Azov” fighter, defender of Mariupol;

– Dmytro “Diplomat”, defender of Mariupol, veteran of the “Azov” brigade, former prisoner of war;

– Bohdan Okhrymenko, representative of the Coordination Headquarters — Head of the Secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters.

Topics for discussion:

– systemic issues in returning “Azov” fighters from captivity;

– persecution of “Azov” members in captivity: the Olenivka terrorist attack, intensified torture, mass criminal prosecution, and illegal verdicts by russian courts;

– the role of the international community and the state in returning the defenders of Mariupol.

The press conference will take place on the fourth anniversary of the final end of the defense of Mariupol and the surrender of the Mariupol garrison.

Speakers will address the issue of the prolonged captivity of servicemen of the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov,” who defended Mariupol and went into captivity in May 2022. More than 700 fighters remain in captivity.

How did it happen that soldiers who became a national and international symbol of Ukraine’s resistance to russian aggression in the early months of the full-scale invasion are often left out of prisoner exchanges?

The purpose of the press conference is also to discuss possible mechanisms to strengthen efforts to secure the release of “Azov” fighters from captivity.

• 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