Themes by tag: prisoners

On December 24, at 2 PM, relatives of captured AZOV fighters will gather on Sofia Square in Kyiv to remind the world of those who are still held in russian captivity. The families of the prisoners call on the governments of the world and international organizations to redouble their efforts to get their relatives out of the clutches of the aggressor.

For reference: “Azovstal” Iron and Steel Works became a stronghold during the defense of Mariupol. On May 20, 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers left the territory of the plant and were immediately captured by the occupiers. Some of them were released within several exchanges. But most of the defenders of Azovstal, in particular, those from the AZOV regiment, remain imprisoned.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Oksana Dubyk from Mariupol found refuge in Lviv after her hometown was captured by the russians. The woman lives in a modular town and works in a flower shop, which she opened together with two other residents of Mariupol. In Lviv, Oksana is waiting for her husband, a 59-year-old Azovstal defender Ihor Dubyk. Ihor was captured by the russians on May 17. He was also in “Olenivka” penitentiary. On December 1, Ihor was released during the exchange of prisoners. The man is currently undergoing rehabilitation and awaiting surgery. Oksana and her children have already been able to meet him in the city where he is undergoing treatment.

• casualties
• prisoners
• women
• Lviv

Families of “Azovstal” defenders will hold a rally in Lviv. The rally will take place on August 5 at 7:00 PM in front of the Lviv National Opera building. The purpose of the event is to call on the world community and international organizations to save the lives of the prisoners, to return the Mariupol garrison to the territory controlled by Ukraine, and to recognize russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. According to the relatives of Azov soldiers, there has been no contact with the Ukrainian prisoners of war for several months, and the russians violate all possible rules for the treatment of prisoners. The families of prisoners of war also plan to hold rallies similar to the one in Lviv in various European cities.

• military
• prisoners
• Lviv

On July 30, a running flashmob called “Running for Azovstal” will take place on Trukhaniv Island in Kyiv in support of the defenders of Mariupol. The project was organized by the Association of “Azovstal” Defenders Families.

The participants are free to choose to run a longer or shorter distance, or choose a route on their own. The race in Kyiv will not have a finish line, because, as the organizers explain, the finish line of the project will be upon the return of all the captured Azovstal heroes.

The goal of the race is not to let the world forget about Mariupol defenders.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Aliona Lapchuk saw her husband Vitalii Lapchuk alive for the last time on March 27 when he was abducted and beaten by occupiers.  On May 22, Vitalii’s body was found in the Dnieper. His relatives could only recognize him in the photo due to a peculiar birthmark. Vitalii’s wife is still unable to get Vitalii’s body for the funeral.

Vitalii Lapchuk joined Kherson’s Territorial Defense Force in the first days of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He took up arms in late February and continued to fight as an underground resistance fighter even after russian forces had entered the city.

• dead
• prisoners

Terrorists of the self-proclaimed DPR sentenced to death a Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadoun who defended Ukraine against invaders. Brahim is 21 years old; he is a former student of Ihor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. He has been residing in Ukraine since 2019 and signed a contract for military service in 2021. He defended Azovstal Steel Works and was taken captive by russians. Nika, Brahim’s girlfriend, is fighting in Ukraine for his release from captivity.

By way of background information:
UK citizens Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner, and Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadoun were sentenced to death in occupied Donetsk. All of them moved to Ukraine and signed contracts with Ukraine’s Armed Forces before the onset of russia’s all-out invasion; thus, they are combatants protected by the Geneva Conventions.

• prisoners
• russian crimes

Families of defenders of Mariupol announced the establishment of the NGO “Ladies of Steel.” The Council of Wives and Mothers of the soldiers will control the process of the repatriation of POWs. For instance, they will launch a Telegram channel for communications that will help exchange the Ukrainian soldiers. Furthermore, they plan to become a mediator between the Ukrainian authorities and the defenders’ families.

• military
• prisoners
• women

Dmytro Kozatskyi, known as the Azov photographer with the call sign Orest, who had been in Azovstal Iron and Steelworks for a long time, called on journalists to distribute his photographs taken at the plant and send them to participate in various professional competitions. The fighter also said that as of today, May 20, he is in russian captivity.

“Well, this is it. Thank you for shelter, Azovstal — the place of my death and my life. By the way, while I am in captivity, I will leave the photos in the best quality for you to send them to all journalistic awards and photo contests. If I win something when I’m out, it will be very nice. Thank you all for your support. See you soon!” — Dmytro said on social media.

Dmytro “Orest” Kozatskyi is the photographer behind all the pictures and videos from Azovstal that were featured in the world and Ukrainian media, including the photo of the soldier standing in a sunbeam, which recently circulated the world.

High quality photos of the serviceman can be downloaded here.

• military
• prisoners

Associated Press published video footage from the bodycam that belongs to Taira, a volunteer taken into captivity. Yuliia Paievska, who went by call sign Taira, is a Ukrainian paramedic, volunteer, founder, and leader of Taira’s Angels, a medevac volunteer unit. 

 Yuliia was captured by russian invaders in Mariupol after handing over the footage to journalists. Videos show scenes of her saving the wounded and consequences of the shelling of Mariupol by the enemy. There is also footage of russian POWs.

Yuliia was taken into captivity in mid-March. russian propaganda outlets portray her as a “member of Azov battalion.”

• doctors
• prisoners
• women