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On April 12, a peaceful rally “From captivity — home” dedicated to the release of Ukrainian civilian prisoners who are illegally held by russia will take place in Kyiv. The goal of the event is to draw public and international attention to the issue of illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians by russia and to demand their immediate release.

During the rally “From captivity — home” there will be:

• Speeches by representatives of the “Civilians in Captivity” organization, who will tell about life in captivity and the experiences of people illegally detained by russia; 
• performances by artists; 
• a joint prayer for the release of prisoners; 
• addresses by government officials; 
• a moment of silence for the fallen.

Background: According to official figures, russia is illegally holding thousands of Ukrainian civilians. They are doctors, teachers, volunteers, journalists, ordinary citizens who have become victims of russian aggression.

• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

To remind about the defenders of “Azovstal” and other servicemen still in enemy captivity, peaceful events are planned in 28 cities.

On April 5, events will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Arbuzynka, Pavlysh village, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Pavlohrad and Obukhiv.

On April 6, activities are scheduled in Kyiv, Pivdenoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevec, Ovruch, Korosten, Pryluky, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Lozova, Berdychiv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Dolynska, Kropyvnytskyi, Kovel, Shostka, Ostroh, Odesa, and Chernivtsi.

The events are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Often those who have been liberated from captivity take part in the actions.

• prisoners

Halyna Hrytseniak, a medical doctor and Marine Corps veteran, spent 1 year, 7 months, and 12 days in captivity following the defense of Mariupol. Today, she volunteers with the Stalevi charitable organization and is an active member of the Stalevi veterans’ movement.

Her husband, Mykola Hrytseniak, is also a soldier—a Marine who fought in the defense of Mariupol. He endured four months in captivity before returning to military service as an instructor at the Marine Training Center.

Halyna recalls receiving her first marriage proposal on April 1, 2022, in a bunker at the Ilyich plant, where the hospital was located. Mykola, wounded with a gunshot to his leg, was lying there when he asked her to marry him.

More details on Halyna’s story are available here. 

Journalists can arrange an online interview with her by prior agreement.

• military
• prisoners
• women

Peaceful gatherings will take place in 24 cities to draw attention to the defenders of Azovstal and other military personnel still held in enemy captivity.

On March 22, rallies will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Arbuzynka, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Svitlovodsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Obukhiv.

On March 23, events are planned in Kyiv, Pivdennoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Kremenchuk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, Pryluky, Dolynske, Ostroh, Shostka, Odesa, Brovary, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Korosten, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Lozova, Poltava, Berdychiv, and Kropyvnytskyi.

The rallies are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison, with former captives often taking part in the events.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Peaceful rallies will be held in 24 cities to remind the world of the defenders of Azovstal and other soldiers still held in enemy captivity.

On March 8, rallies will be held in Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Arbuzynka, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Zaporizhia, Zhytomyr, Pavlohrad and Obukhiv.

On March 9, events are planned in Kyiv, Pivdennoukrainsk, Uman, Krolevets, Korop, Ovruch, Kremenchuk, Cherkasy, Korosten, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Lozova, Poltava, Berdychiv, and Kropyvnytskyi.

The rallies are organized by families of POWs from the Mariupol garrison, with former POWs often attending to share their experiences.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On March 4, the Media Center Ukraine will host a press conference titled “Volodymyr Ananiev – Ukrainian Political Prisoner of Crimea: Illicit Actions of the Aggressor Country.”

On February 5, 2024, the russian Federal Security Service claimed to have foiled a “terrorist plot” against Sergey Aksyonov, the pro-russian head of Crimea’s government serving as “Chairman of the Council of Ministers.” However, the reality is that 75-year-old Volodymyr Ananiev, a well-known Ukrainian public figure from Crimea, along with two other Ukrainian nationals, was detained as part of a fabricated case.

Ananiev is currently facing transportation to russia under guard and is at risk of a lengthy prison sentence for refusing to cooperate with the russian “investigation.”

The press conference will address the details of Ananiev’s imprisonment, the conditions of his detention, and his deteriorating health.

Speakers:

– Anna Sviatnenko, Wife of kremlin Political Prisoner Volodymyr Ananiev;

– Andriy Shchekun, Representative of the Regional Council of Ukrainians of Crimea;

– Olha Skrypnyk, Board Chairwoman of the Crimean Human Rights Group. 

• prisoners
• Kyiv

On March 4, the Media Center Ukraine will host a press conference titled “Volodymyr Ananiev – Ukrainian Political Prisoner of Crimea: Illicit Actions of the Aggressor Country.”

On February 5, 2024, the russian Federal Security Service claimed to have foiled a “terrorist plot” against Sergey Aksyonov, the pro-russian head of Crimea’s government serving as “Chairman of the Council of Ministers.” However, the reality is that 75-year-old Volodymyr Ananiev, a well-known Ukrainian public figure from Crimea, along with two other Ukrainian nationals, was detained as part of a fabricated case.

Ananiev is currently facing transportation to russia under guard and is at risk of a lengthy prison sentence for refusing to cooperate with the russian “investigation.”

The press conference will address the details of Ananiev’s imprisonment, the conditions of his detention, and his deteriorating health.

Speakers:

– Anna Sviatnenko, Wife of kremlin Political Prisoner Volodymyr Ananiev;

– Andriy Shchekun, Representative of the Regional Council of Ukrainians of Crimea;

– Olha Skrypnyk, Board Chairwoman of the Crimean Human Rights Group. 

• prisoners
• Kyiv

On March 4, the Media Center Ukraine will host the presentation of the Amnesty International’s report: “Deafening Silence – Enforced Disappearances, Incommunicado Detention, and Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners by russia”.

Participants:

– Veronika Velch, Director of Amnesty International Ukraine;

– Olena Kozachenko, Research Project Assistant at Amnesty International Ukraine;

– Lera Burlakova, Media and Communications Officer at Amnesty International Ukraine;

– Nataliia Yepifanova, Head of the NGO Warriors Liberation;

– Maksym Kolesnikov, Veteran and Former Prisoner of War. 

Amnesty International’s report, “Deafening Silence – Enforced Disappearances, Incommunicado Detention, and Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners by russia,” draws on interviews with 104 individuals, including former prisoners of war, to document crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in russian captivity.

According to Amnesty International’s latest report, Ukrainian prisoners are deliberately kept in isolation, enabling ongoing torture and systematic human rights violations. Many detainees are officially classified as missing in action due to the complete absence of information regarding their whereabouts. russia’s consistent failure to confirm the detention of certain Ukrainian prisoners – despite credible evidence of their captivity – constitutes enforced disappearance under international law. Furthermore, the report indicates that russia has likely withheld information from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the status of hundreds, possibly thousands, of prisoners of war. russia’s treatment of both Ukrainian military personnel and civilians in detention flagrantly violates the full spectrum of international legal standards.

• casualties
• military
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On February 26, 2022, Vasyl Vyrozub, rector of the Holy Trinity Church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Odesa, was taken prisoner by russian forces. He was part of a mission to Zmiinyi (Snake) Island to recover the bodies of border guards who were initially presumed dead.

The Ukrainian vessel transporting Vasyl was seized by the russian cruiser Moskva, and he, along with two other military chaplains and a doctor, was captured. Vasyl spent 70 days in russian captivity, enduring torture. His captors subjected him and his fellow prisoners to relentless interrogations, struggling to comprehend why they had come to retrieve the fallen soldiers. The detainees were forced to sing the aggressor country’s anthem, kneel, and endure solitary confinement.

After his release, Vasyl was honored with the Memory of the Nation Award by Post Bellum, a Czech nonprofit dedicated to preserving the testimonies of war veterans and political prisoners.

Vasyl Vyrozub is available for interviews in Odesa, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

Background: Fighting for Snake Island began on February 24, 2022, when russian forces seized the territory. Initially, reports stated that all 13 Ukrainian border guards defending the island had been killed. Later, Ukraine’s Border Guard Service indicated that the defenders might have been taken prisoner. On July 4, 2022, Snake Island returned to Ukrainian control.

• casualties
• prisoners
• religion
• russian crimes
• Odesa

On the 3rd anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the “People Fist!” campaign, supported by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the russian federation Mariana Katzarova, two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and over forty leading Ukrainian, russian and international human rights organizations demand the immediate release of the captives of russia’s war against Ukraine. On February 24, an online press conference will be held.

Their call is simple: put people first. As preparations for negotiations to end the war are underway, the key priority of any negotiated agreements must be the release and exchange of the captives.

Among them are:
– at least 20,000 Ukrainian children deported to russia
– thousands of Ukrainian civilians held in russian prisons
– thousands of Ukrainian and russian prisoners of war
– hundreds of russian political prisoners imprisoned for anti-war speech or actions

Speakers:
– Mariana Katzarova, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the russian federation
– Oleksandra Matviichuk, leader of the Center for Civil Liberties, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
– Oleg Orlov, Co-Chair of Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, former political prisoner and the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
– Yevgen Zakharov, Director of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
– Dirk Schuebel, Head of division, Relations with the russian federation, European External Action Service, European Commission (TBC)

Accreditation is required to attend the event.

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