Themes by tag: prisoners

Hlib Stryzhko was persuaded not to sign the contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2021 by his brother, a military officer. However, Hlib still joined the army. When the full-scale invasion began, the soldier was in Mariupol with his brothers in arms. He led the amphibious assault division of the first separate battalion of marines. On April 10, 2022, Hlib was seriously injured when enemy shelling caused the concrete structures above him to collapse. His hip joints, jaw and eyes were damaged. Two days later, Hlib was captured by the russians, who held him captive for 17 days. After a long physical and psychological rehabilitation, Hlib received the group 2 disability status. Currently, Hlib is Head of the Kyiv branch of Veteran Hub.

Hlib Stryzhko is ready to communicate with journalists in Kyiv by prior agreement.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv
• Mariupol

Anastasiia Buhera faced the brutal reality of the full-scale Russian invasion alongside her parents in Izium, Kharkiv region. Originally there on vacation from her studies at a Kharkiv university, Anastasiia witnessed firsthand the devastation wrought by the enemy upon the captured city. She meticulously tracked the relentless bombardment, tallying the number of bombs dropped by Russian forces hourly. Every trip for bread was a perilous gamble, as each outing carried the risk of becoming her last. After a harrowing five months under occupation, Anastasiia managed to escape back to government-controlled territory. Upon her return, she received devastating news: her beloved Kostiantyn, who had been defending Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol since February 2022, had been captured by the enemy. Their last conversation took place on April 24, 2022, when Kostiantyn sent her photos and videos, promising his imminent return. Now, Anastasiia waits anxiously for Kostiantyn’s safe return, tirelessly working to keep the plight of those still held captive by Russian forces in the public eye.

• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women

Olha Kurtmallaieva, 24 years old, majored in finance. The russian federation’s full-scale invasion caught her in her native Berdiansk, Zaporizhia region (now the city is occupied). In the summer of 2022, she left the occupation.

Olha’s husband, Ruslan, has been defending the country since 2014 (he served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and Joint Forces Operation zone). April 4, 2024 will mark two years since he got captured by the russians during the defense of Mariupol.

Olha is actively fighting for the release of her husband – she is trying to attend every demonstration calling on the release of the prisoners of war. She also co-founded an NGO that helps soldiers of the 501st Separate Naval Infantry Battalion to return home. (Together with other women, they organize rallies, arrange meetings and communicate with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities). And she does all this despite suffering from a serious illness: back in 2021, Olha was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the lymph tissue).

Already during the full-scale war, Olga found out that the disease had progressed from the second stage to the fourth. Doctors link it to great stress. Olha has now undergone 12 courses of chemotherapy. The treatment was very difficult (in particular, she was in the intensive care unit) and the woman had to go through it alone, without her beloved by her side.

Journalists can talk to Olha in Kyiv (in person) or online.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Kyiv

64-year-old pastor Anatolii Voloshyn joined the Mariupol Territorial Defense Forces on February 25, 2022. Anatolii became the commander of the counter-subversive unit. On March 14, 2022, he received a shrapnel wound in a mine blast – a fragment damaged his arm, hit his ribs and broke his bones. The pastor was first taken to a local hospital for a surgery, and later – to Azovstal Steelworks.

In May 2022, following the order of the top military leadership Anatolii and his comrades left Azovstal and surrendered. At that time, the man was emaciated (he had lost 22 kilograms), one of his arms did not function, and his ribs were broken. The occupiers brought the pastor together with the rest of the military to the camp in Olenivka, and later took him to Luhansk region. The pastor spent 295 days in russian captivity. On March 6, 2023, Anatolii Voloshyn returned home in a prisoner exchange.

After rehabilitation, the pastor moved to the capital with his family, learned to roller skate, something he had dreamed of for over 20 years, and now he plans to see the ocean.

• casualties
• prisoners
• religion

Hailing from Mariupol, 21-year-old Illia, attended a maritime lyceum before enlisting in the 23rd Sea Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. As the all-out invasion loomed, Illia and his fellow servicemen valiantly defended against the enemy’s incursion from the sea. During a pivotal moment when his vessel docked in Mariupol, Illia eagerly volunteered to reinforce the frontline positions. Transitioning from a marine machine to a machine gunner on land, Illia showcased his adaptability and commitment to his duty. Subsequently, he received orders to deploy to Azovstal, where he found himself ensnared in a harrowing special operation, trapped within encircling enemy forces. In May 2022, Illia, alongside other defenders of Azovstal, was captured by the enemy following a strategic decision to surrender per the directives of Ukrainian military leadership. Initially detained in the infamous Olenivka facility in Donetsk, Illia was subsequently transferred to Taganrog in Russia, where he “celebrated” his birthday under captivity. Enduring 10 grueling months in enemy hands, Illia’s hope flickered to life upon hearing Ukrainian spoken among fellow prisoners during a bus transport on February 16, 2023, signaling his imminent release as part of a prisoner exchange. Following his liberation, Illia embarked on a journey of rehabilitation while concurrently penning a memoir chronicling the defense of Mariupol.

For reference: Illia Iliashenko is currently available for interviews in Kyiv, extending his willingness to engage with journalists both online and offline with prior arrangement.

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

These events are set to unfold across at least 16 cities in Ukraine.

On March 15, demonstrations are planned in Khmelnytskyi and Krolevets (Sumy region). 

The following day, March 16, actions will unfold in Dnipro, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia, and Zaporizhia. 

March 17 will see gatherings in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, Kovel, Ovruch (Zhytomyr region), Kryvyi Rih, Ternopil, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Drohobych.

These events are spearheaded by families of prisoners of war from the besieged Mariupol garrison.

For reference: On March 16, 2022, Russian forces dropped an air bomb on the Mariupol Drama Theater, where civilians, including children, sought refuge since the onset of the full-blown war. The devastating air strike resulted in the loss of several hundred lives.

• casualties
• dead
• prisoners
• russian crimes

On March 15, Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform will hold a press conference: entitled “Captured mercenaries from Global South countries. What should governments do to prevent their citizens from dying in someone else’s war?”

After suffering significant losses, russia’s forced mobilization campaign and contracting prisoners is running out of steam. russia needs soldiers, whose time in service at the front is measured not in days, but in hours. Therefore, the aggressor country has actively encouraged the influx of citizens coming from countries with a difficult economic situation.

Participants:

– Petro Yatsenko, representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War;

– Vitalii Matviienko, Spokesman for the state-run project “I Want to Live” for servicemen willing to surrender to Ukraine;

Pre-registration is required.

• prisoners
• Kyiv

The Center for Civil Liberties cordially extends an invitation to the forthcoming presentation entitled “Strategy for the Release of Illegally Detained Civilians and Find Missing Persons as a Result of Russian Aggression.” Scheduled for March 14, this event will take place at the Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform in Kyiv. 

Speakers of the event:

– Mykhailo Savva, member of the expert council Center for Civil Liberties;

– Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Center for Civil Liberties;

– Viktoriya Petruk, representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (KSHPPV). 

Event accreditation is required.

For context: Russia is currently holding more than 7,000 civilians in the occupied territories and within the Russian Federation without legal basis. Many individuals have been detained under vague charges of “resistance to a special military operation” without formal accusations, and the majority lack access to legal representation. Reports indicate widespread instances of mistreatment and torture against these detainees. 

Since the commencement of Russia’s comprehensive aggression against Ukraine, only 160 civilians have been released in prisoner exchanges, as reported on January 4, 2024.

• casualties
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On March 16, Kyiv will play host to a poignant demonstration of support for the missing and imprisoned warriors with the event “Two Hearts in Captivity.” The rally aims to thrust the dire plight of Ukrainian prisoners of war, languishing in enemy confines, into the spotlight of public consciousness, governmental attention, and the global arena. Furthermore, organizers seek to underscore the critical necessity of boosting support networks for the families left behind, grappling with the absence of their loved ones.

The agenda for this solemn occasion encompasses moving performances titled “Two Hearts in Captivity” and “Human Chain.”

The event is helmed by the families of POWs and missing defenders, in tandem with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. 

• military
• prisoners
• Kyiv

On March 10 Dnipro gears up to host the poignant performance, “The Third Spring in Captivity.” This nationwide initiative, titled “Don’t be silent! Captivity kills!”, aims to highlight the dire predicament faced by Ukrainian prisoners of war, particularly those hailing from the embattled city of Mariupol and the Azovstal region, who have languished in enemy captivity for nearly two years.

For context: The defense of Mariupol endured for 86 grueling days, with soldiers enduring complete encirclement for 82 of those days. In May 2022, following orders from the command, Ukrainian defenders ceased resistance, vacated Azovstal, and surrendered to enemy forces.

• military
• prisoners
• Dnipro