Russians and Ukrainians Work Together to Find Detained Ukrainian Civilians in Russia
Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are disappearing into Russian prisons, with a network of Russians and Ukrainians working to locate them.
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| Russians and Ukrainians works together to locate thousands of Ukrainian civilians detained in Russian prisons |
She received a call from a Russian prison guard who found her contact information on a paper hidden in a thread spool from Vlad's cell.
The guard is part of a volunteer network in Russia who risk their lives to share information about detained Ukrainians.
Lawyers and activists say Russian forces are illegally detaining Ukrainian civilians as they occupy Ukrainian territory.
A Moscow lawyer calls it the biggest human rights crisis in modern Russia, with the number of victims growing significantly.
A former Russian law enforcement official describes the kidnapping of civilians as a tool of terror, creating fear as relatives vanish without trace.
As peace talks loom with President Trump planning to meet Putin, activists urge that the issue of captured Ukrainian civilians must be a top priority.
The Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties reports 7,000 civilians in Russian detention, while the Ukrainian government estimates the number to be twice that.
These detainees are called "frozen people" because they exist outside Russia's legal system before being charged.
Most detainees face harsh conditions and torture, with courts often holding closed trials that don't meet fair trial requirements.
The Russian Defense Ministry claims they follow the Geneva Conventions, but international norms prohibit taking civilian hostages.
Oleksandr Sizyonov, a Ukrainian priest, shares his experience of torture and psychological terror during his detention.
Most civilians are captured in occupied territories, often accused of opposing Russia's war or suspected of spying.
A network of volunteers, including priests, lawyers, and former law enforcement officers, helps track and support detained Ukrainians.
Father Grigory Mikhnov-Vaytenko visits Ukrainian civilians in Russian prisons and coordinates volunteer groups across Russia.
Olga Romanova, a Russian journalist in Berlin, works with 30 Ukrainian and Russian activists to help detainees, confirming 1,600 names so far.
Church groups send food and clothing to Ukrainian prisoners, while disguised volunteers help maintain the support network.
Nadezhda recently learned through a released prisoner that Vlad is alive but has lost all his teeth due to torture.
She continues to share her husband's story and search for information, holding onto hope for his return.
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