List of journalists held in russian captivity (being updated)

According to verified data from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), as of August 24, 2025, at least 28 civilian media workers are being held in russian captivity; russia also holds at least one media representative from among those mobilized to defend Ukraine in the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

“Russia continues to grossly violate international humanitarian law by illegally holding Ukrainian journalists captive,” emphasizes NUJU President Serhii Tomilenko. “This is a war crime for which the aggressor must be punished. Our colleagues are held captive solely because of their professional activities – they were fulfilling their duty by informing the world about russian aggression against Ukraine. The NUJU calls on the international community to increase pressure on the russian federation for the immediate release of all captured media representatives. Every day in russian captivity is a day of torture and inhuman treatment of our colleagues. At least one Ukrainian journalist, Victoria Roshchina, did not survive this torture and died in captivity.”

The NUJU also calls on the Ukrainian authorities to activate all possible diplomatic mechanisms and negotiation processes to free Ukrainian journalists. We must use every opportunity to save them, involve international organizations and platforms.

Russia must understand that punishment for crimes against media workers is inevitable. We will not stop fighting for the freedom of our colleagues!

Ukrainian civilian journalists held captive by the russian federation (list is being updated):

1. Oleksii Bessarabov, Ukrainian journalist and political analyst, former serviceman of the Ukrainian Navy. Lived in Sevastopol, worked as a correspondent for the Hlavred publication, collaborated with the Nomos analytical center, and was deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine Chornomorska Bezpeka. He was detained by the FSB on November 9, 2016, on charges of sabotage and terrorist activities. He was subjected to electric torture. On April 4, 2019, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a maximum-security colony on a clearly falsified case.
2. Volodymyr Dudka, a former Ukrainian military sailor, safety engineer, and political analyst. Collaborated with the magazine Chornomorska Bezpeka. He was detained by the FSB on November 9, 2016, on charges of sabotage and terrorist activities. He was subjected to electric torture. On April 4, 2019, he was sentenced to 14 years in a maximum-security colony for an obviously falsified case.
3. Dmytro Shtyblykov, Ukrainian journalist, reserve officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, head of international programs of the Nomos analytical center, deputy editor-in-chief of the Black Sea Security He was detained by the FSB on November 9, 2016, on charges of sabotage and terrorist activities. In May 2017, under duress and threats against family members, he entered into a pre-trial agreement, pleading “guilty.” On November 16, 2017, he was sentenced to 5 years in a maximum-security colony. On November 8, 2021, when he was supposed to be released, he was arrested on charges of “high treason” and remanded in custody.
4. Ernes Ametov, a citizen journalist, actively covered human rights violations in occupied Crimea. He was arrested on October 11, 2017, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as a “terrorist” organization in russia. On September 16, 2020, he was acquitted, but the appeals court overturned the acquittal on March 14, 2022. On December 29, 2022, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
5. Marlen Asanov (Suleiman), a photographer, popularizer of Crimean Tatar culture, and citizen journalist, actively covered searches and trials. He was arrested on October 11, 2017, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as a “terrorist” organization in russia. He was sentenced to 19 years in a maximum-security prison. Due to the conditions of detention and the long stay in the penal colony, he often falls ill.
6. Timur Ibragimov, a citizen journalist, actively covered human rights violations in the occupied Crimea. He was arrested on October 11, 2017, on charges of participation in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison in a maximum-security colony. He has a third group of disability, and he has an eye implant that has long been due for replacement.
7. Seyran Saliyev, a citizen journalist, actively covered searches and trials. He was arrested on October 11, 2017, on charges of participation in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a maximum-security colony.
8. Server Mustafayev, a human rights activist, one of the organizers and coordinators of Crimean Solidarity, and a citizen journalist, conducted systematic monitoring of the situation in Crimea and covered politically motivated trials in the media. He was arrested on May 21, 2018, on charges of participating in a Muslim organization, Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a maximum-security colony. He filed a number of lawsuits about the seizure of his Koran and personal belongings, the lack of adequate medical care, and other violations by the management of “correctional” institutions.
9. Ruslan Suleymanov, a citizen journalist, covered human rights violations in the occupied Crimea. He was arrested on March 27, 2019, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a maximum-security colony.
10. Rustem Sheikhaliyev, a citizen journalist, covered human rights violations in the occupied Crimea, primarily “trials.” He was arrested on March 27, 2019, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. Despite serious illnesses (chronic pyelonephritis, prolapse of the right kidney, varicose veins in the legs), he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a maximum-security colony.
11. Ramzi Bekirov, a citizen journalist, correspondent for ru, covered high-profile cases against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea. He was arrested on March 28, 2019, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison in a maximum-security colony.
12. Osman Arifmemetov, writer, winner of literary competitions, citizen journalist, actively covered searches and trials, helped make programs in pre-trial detention centers for unjustly convicted Crimean Tatars. He was arrested on March 28, 2019, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. He received a sentence of 14 years of imprisonment in a maximum-security colony.
13. Amet Suleymanov, a citizen journalist, covered human rights violations in occupied Crimea. He was arrested on March 12, 2020, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. Despite a serious heart disease (doctors recommended replacing the mitral valve), he received a sentence of 12 years of imprisonment in a maximum-security colony. He was under house arrest, and after the sentence came into effect (from April 5, 2023) – in prison. He is being held in conditions that contribute to the exacerbation of his illness.
14. Akhtemov Asan, Crimean journalist, correspondent, and assistant editor of the Avdet He was detained on September 3, 2021, on charges of blowing up a section of a gas pipeline near Simferopol. He was subjected to torture and psychological pressure from FSB officers. Despite the obvious falsification of “evidence”, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison in a maximum-security colony.
15. Serhii Tsyhipa, a public figure and journalist from Nova Kakhovka, was detained on March 12, 2022, on charges of espionage by the decision of the occupation Simferopol “court” on October 6, 2023, and received a 13-year prison term. On February 14, 2024, the appeals “court” upheld this verdict.
16. Iryna Danylovich, Crimean nurse, trade union and public activist, citizen journalist of the “Crimean Process.” She was kidnapped in Koktebel on April 29, 2022; held in a basement, tortured, and intimidated. She was accused of manufacturing and storing an improvised explosive device. She was sentenced to 7 years in prison. In prison, her health deteriorated significantly; she is losing her hearing and has suffered a stroke. Due to the lack of medical care, she declared a dry hunger strike.
17. Yevhen Ilchenko, administrator of the Melitopol Telegram channel Mylyi Topol, detained on July 10, 2022, deported to russia.
18. Vilen Temeryanov, a citizen journalist, later a journalist for ru, actively covered human rights violations in occupied Crimea. He was arrested on August 11, 2022, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. While in prison, he was subjected to forced psychiatric examination; in addition, the journalist’s eyesight deteriorated sharply. As of April 2024, the verdict has not yet been rendered.
19. Iryna Levchenko, a journalist from Melitopol, a veteran of journalism, was detained on May 6, 2023, together with her husband, Oleksandr. What she is accused of and her whereabouts are not known for certain.
20. Heorhii Levchenko, administrator of the Telegram channel RIA Melitopol, was arrested by the FSB in Melitopol on August 1, 2023, as a “Ukrainian terrorist,” as recorded in a russian propaganda video. The journalist is being held in Mariupol.
21. Anastasiya Hlukhovska, before the full-scale invasion – a journalist for the publication RIA Melitopol, arrested by the FSB in Melitopol on August 1, 2023, as recorded in a russian propaganda video. It is unknown where she is being held.
22. Vladyslav Hershon, administrator of the chat Melitopol, Ukraine, was detained on August 1, 2023. His relatives were informed about his detention two and a half months later.
23. Yana Suvorova, administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine. He was detained by the russian occupiers on August 1, 2023, in Melitopol. Together with other administrators, she was accused of terrorism, espionage, and cooperation with Ukrainian special services. It is unknown where she is being held.
24. Oleksandr Malyshev, administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine. He was detained by the russian occupiers in Melitopol on August 1, 2023. Together with other administrators, he was accused of terrorism, espionage, and cooperation with Ukrainian special services. It is unknown where he is being held.
25. Maksym Rupchev, administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine. He was detained by the russian occupiers on August 1, 2023, in Melitopol. Together with other administrators, he was accused of terrorism, espionage, and cooperation with Ukrainian special services. It is unknown where he is being held.
26. Rustem Osmanov, a citizen journalist, covered human rights violations in occupied Crimea. He was arrested on March 5, 2024, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. The russian “Kyiv District Court” of Simferopol chose a preventive measure of detention for him for two months.
27. Aziz Azizov, a citizen journalist, covered human rights violations in occupied Crimea. He was arrested on March 5, 2024, on charges of participating in the Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as “terrorist” in russia. The russian “Kyiv District Court” of Simferopol chose a preventive measure of detention for him for two months.
28. Hennadii Osmak, a journalist from Henichesk, former editor-in-chief of the publication, New Visit. On March 12, 2022, he announced his termination from media work. On March 7, 2024, it became known about his detention for “participation in an illegal military group” (“popularization of the terrorist battalion named after Noman Chelebidzhikhan”). He faces 15 years in prison.

There is also information about a journalist who was captured while serving in the ranks of the Defense Forces of Ukraine:

• Vasyl Filimon, a cameraman of the Mykolayiv branch of the Public Broadcasting Service, was drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On May 15, 2022, he was captured by the russian military occupation forces while performing a combat mission in the Donetsk Region.