THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
Olena Tsyhipa, a schoolteacher from the currently occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region, has been tirelessly fighting for the release of her husband, journalist and public activist Serhiy Tsyhipa, for over two years and ten months. During this time, Sergiy has been imprisoned in Russia, accused of “espionage” under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code – a fabricated charge used to suppress his Ukrainian patriotism. Now 63 years old, Sergiy remains morally resilient in a penal colony, while Olena endures for his sake, working tirelessly to secure his release.
“When we saw the Russian flag over the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, we understood: occupation.”
“I don’t allow myself to falter; I must do everything I can,” Olena shared in an interview with the NUJU. “If I give up, no one will fight as actively as I do.”
The couple last saw each other on March 12, 2022. By then, the Russian occupation of Nova Kakhovka was well underway, and six days earlier, Serhiy had gone into hiding after leading a civil resistance rally and engaging in informational resistance against the invaders. Nova Kakhovka was among the first cities captured by Russian forces. On February 24, 2022, when the war began, Sergiy and other residents attempted to mobilize at the local military recruitment office (CCC), but it was deserted. The city deputies offered no guidance, and the police station was abandoned. The absence of order was a stark contrast to what they had known just hours before.
Recalling the events of that day, Olena said, “By the afternoon, we saw the Russian flag flying over the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Helicopters carrying Russian troops were landing. It became clear: the city was under occupation.” Residents shared videos on social media showing a large convoy of Russian military vehicles crossing the dam of the hydroelectric power station. The sight of tanks, armored personnel carriers, and trucks stunned the community. For Olena, the shock left her nearly speechless for three days. Serhiy, however, quickly decided to act: “This is a hybrid war. If I don’t have weapons, I will wage an information war.”
Resistance: social media, volunteering, and protests
From that point on, Sergiy began documenting events in occupied Nova Kakhovka, using his Facebook page and Telegram channel to inform and guide residents on surviving under oppressive conditions. He also became a humanitarian volunteer, assisting vulnerable and elderly individuals with Olena and others in a volunteer group they named “Ukrainochka.” They raised funds, purchased food and medicine, and delivered these essentials to those in need. A military reserve major with experience in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (2015–2017), Sergiy’s resolve was strengthened by his past service. His relentless activism soon attracted the attention of the occupiers, particularly after he helped organize an anti-Russian rally on March 6, 2022, which drew thousands of participants with Ukrainian flags and slogans.
“We shouted at the occupiers to leave. Sergiy documented everything and shared it on Facebook,” Olena recalled. That same day, friends warned Sergiy that he was being actively hunted. He initially went into hiding but soon stopped. “As a journalist, Serhiy felt compelled to act. Journalists are always on the front lines of events,” Olena explained. Additionally, he didn’t want to endanger his family by forcing the occupiers to search multiple homes.
Captured at a сheckpoint
On March 12, 2022, while attempting to deliver supplies to the elderly in the nearby city of Tavriysk, Sergiy was captured at a checkpoint on the bridge over the North Crimean Canal. He was detained in Simferopol, coerced into making a “confession” video, and eventually sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security colony after a secret trial in October 2023. Despite the dire circumstances, Serhiy has remained defiant, stating at his trial:
“I don’t care if you sentence me to two years or twenty. Your goal is to intimidate people in the occupied territories. I won’t be silent.”
Advocacy on an international scale
Since her husband’s imprisonment, Olena has worked relentlessly to raise awareness about Russian war crimes. She and her son relocated to Kyiv, while other family members fled Nova Kakhovka. Beginning in 2022, Olena joined advocacy tours across Europe, speaking at conferences, cultural events, and meetings with international organizations in cities such as Warsaw, Milan, Strasbourg, Geneva, and Berlin.
“Our stories differ in details but share a common truth: war crimes were committed against our loved ones. They must be freed immediately,” she said. In 2024, Olena organized two advocacy tours independently as part of the public organization “Civilians in Captivity,” which she co-founded in 2022. These tours included meetings with the International Human Rights Society, the International Red Cross, and the UN in Geneva. Her efforts have led to tangible results, such as families receiving letters from imprisoned loved ones.
“We cannot stop fighting”
Olena balances her advocacy with her work as an art teacher at the remote Novokakhovka Lyceum No. 1. Despite the challenges, she remains focused on her mission:
“We tell the world that Russia is kidnapping civilians, committing war crimes, and enslaving people with no justification. Our struggle has meaning, and we will continue until our loved ones are free.”
Created as part of the project “Raising awareness among target groups in Ukraine and abroad about Russian war crimes against journalists in 2024 and increasing public pressure for the release of captured journalists”, which is implemented by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine with support of the Swedish non-profit human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders.
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