Prisoners of war
“My mornings begin with a prayer to God, asking Him to strengthen my son, protect him from evil people and torture. And that’s the last thing I think about before falling asleep,” Iryna Kozyrieva, mother of an Azov Brigade soldier, says through tears. Her son Yaroslav has been held in Russian captivity for 29 months. However, under the Geneva Conventions, he should have been exchanged two years ago.
16 September 2024
The Ukrainian Defense Forces have been assaulting a female correctional facility in Mala Loknia, Kursk region, where Ukrainian captives—women and men—have been confined for a long time. The seizure of the colony will be a crucial step for Ukraine in gathering evidence of the war crimes committed by Russia against Ukrainian prisoners of war.
23 August 2024
Yehor Kysel, an Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) veteran, defended Kherson during the early days of the full-scale invasion. After the city was occupied, he was abducted by Russians. Since then, the man’s place of detention has changed several times. We share what is happening with the veteran based on the account of his sister, Inna.
8 August 2024
July 28, 2024 is the second anniversary of the mass murder of Ukrainian soldiers of the Azov Brigade held in captivity in Olenivka. Previously the MIHR established the chronology of this crime almost minute by minute. Now we are talking about the progress made in the investigation and the persons charged by the Prosecutor’s Office with the murder.
28 July 2024
On May 16, 2022, Azov fighter Serhii Alieksieievych laid down his weapon, removed his ammunition, and, along with a hundred fellow comrades-in-arms, left the Azovstal territory. In July 2022, an explosion occurred in the colony where the Mariupol garrison was held. Around fifty people were killed and more than a hundred injured—all of them Azov fighters. Serhii Alieksieievych survived but was wounded and remains in captivity.
26 July 2024
Today, July 16, 2024, Ukrainian human rights activist Maksym Butkevych turns 47. After the start of the Russian invasion, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and was captured in June 2022, where he has been held for over two years. Today we are publishing the full text of his speech during the cassation hearing of his case by a Russian court, recorded by one of the attendees.
16 July 2024
Several thousand Ukrainian marines are in captivity. Most of them have been kept since the first months of the war. They are rarely exchanged, and have almost never been released lately. The marines are held compactly in several colonies. They are subjected to cruel treatment and illegal prosecution. Many marines are in critical condition, and some of them die in captivity.
27 June 2024
The number of deaths in Russian captivity has increased dramatically due to inhumane conditions of detention, tortures, beatings, lack of proper nutrition and medical care. This is particularly true for the defenders of Mariupol, including marines of the 36th brigade.
20 June 2024
Oleh and Vitaliy Lobovs, twins, both served in the Azov brigade. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, they defended Mariupol. In April 2022, the group, which included the brothers, made a breakthrough to Azovstal and came under fire. Vitaliy Lobov was killed, and Oleh was wounded, reached the metallurgical plant, and a month later, was taken prisoner.
11 June 2024
On the night of July 28 to 29, 2022, explosions occurred in a barrack within the Volnovakha Correctional Colony No. 120, more commonly known as Olenivka. There were nearly 200 Azov fighters inside. Over 50 of them were killed, and more than a hundred sustained severe wounds. Artem Hondiul was among them.
31 May 2024