Themes by tag: prisoners

During the all-out war, a medic of the State Border Guard Service, Elina Medynina was on duty in Mariupol, which was surrounded by the enemy. Later, she ended up on the territory of Azovstal plant, where, together with other combat medics, she provided medical aid to wounded servicemen and civilians in difficult military and field conditions. The border guard was in russian captivity for almost 5 months.

Elina was awarded the Order for Courage, 3rd degree, and the Order of Princess Olga.

• military
• prisoners
• women

Iryna is a PE teacher from Bucha. In March 2022, the woman was held captive by the occupiers for nine days. Fortunately, she managed to escape. Today, Iryna continues to live in Bucha and work as a PE teacher. She also helps children cope with war trauma.

• occupation
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Father Tykhon is a Greek Catholic priest from Maryinka in Donetsk region. In 2014, when russia first tried to seize the region, Father Tykhon was captured because of his pro-Ukrainian activities. After his release, he was forced to leave his home. Currently, he works as a priest and a psychologist in Lviv. He helps not only the military, but also civilians, in particular, refugees and parents of captured Ukrainian defenders. 

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• psychological support
• religion
• Lviv

Founded by Yuliia “Taira” Paievska, the Mriia Charitable Foundation invites to the public start of its activities, which will take place on February 2 in Kyiv. The team of the Foundation will be happy to meet and communicate with the media in person. The event will be held in a concert form.

The Mriia Foundation helps families of the prisoners of war and civilian prisoners, provides financial, legal and psychological support. Recently, the Foundation team has visited 200 families of prisoners with Christmas gifts and hugged every child waiting for their father from a russian prison.

For reference: Yuliia “Taira” Paievska is a Ukrainian military, paramedic and volunteer, the commander of the “Taira’s Angels” unit. Since 2014, as a paramedic, she took part in the Revolution of Dignity and the war in the east of Ukraine. On March 16, 2022, during the siege of Mariupol city, she was captured by russians and released on June 17, 2022.

• prisoners
• volunteers

Alina Panina, a border guard dog handler, was released from russian captivity during an exchange on October 17. Before the start of the all-out war, Alina worked in Mariupol’s trading port, and she was captured during the defense of Azovstal. The woman has already returned to the service, now — on the Ukrainian-Polish border. Her husband, also a border guard, was captured by the russians. The russians did not return the two dogs that were with Alina at Azovstal. Currently, Alina works with a new four-legged partner, a spaniel that has been given to her by friends.

• prisoners
• women

Thousands of Ukrainian families live in their own personal hell and have no information about the fate of their relatives who came to the defense of Ukraine and ended up in hands of the enemy or went missing. Therefore, relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war continue to fight to return their loved ones home. Among those who strive for soldiers’ release from captivity at all cost: Iryna Latysh, wife of a prisoner of war, representative of the 95th Air Assault Brigade; Svitlana Bohdanenko, wife of a prisoner of war, representative of military medics of Mariupol; Natalia Kravtsova, mother of a prisoner of war; Nataliia Lukovska, wife of a prisoner of war; Illia Honchar, brother of a civilian prisoner; and Nora Storozhuk, wife of a prisoner of war.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

Paramedic Julia Paevska (Taira) is opening “Mria” (Dream) charity fund, which will take care of families of prisoners of war and civilian captives. According to her, there are about 10,000 such families in Ukraine. Julia Paevska plans to sign a memorandum with the center for assistance to prisoners and with other institutions and organizations that, in cooperation with government agencies, help to locate prisoners and assist with obtaining statuses and receiving payouts.

For reference: Julia Paevska (Taira) is a Ukrainian military servicewoman, paramedic and volunteer, commander of “Taira’s Angels” unit. Since 2014, as a paramedic, she has participated in the Revolution of Dignity and the war in the eastern part of Ukraine. On March 16, 2022, during the siege of Mariupol, she was captured by the russians. She was released on June 17, 2022.  

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• volunteers
• Kyiv

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