Since its inception, the Media Initiative for Human Rights has been documenting cases of abductions of civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia and its proxies have been committing these crimes since 2014. During the full-scale invasion, the number of abductions increased many times over.
The first abductions and illegal detentions of Ukrainians in Russian detention centres lasted several days. However, since 2015, the time spent in detention has increased dramatically. So far, the HRMMU documenters have identified more than 100 people who were abducted by Russia before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and are still being held in captivity.
The number of those abducted by the Russians after 24 February 2022 is much higher. As of 4 November 2024, the MIPL has identified at least 1932 such Ukrainians. Among them are people of different genders and ages. Some have been held in detention since the beginning of the occupation, i.e. for more than two and a half years.
Thus, at least 288 people abducted during the occupation of Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions remain in captivity. These territories were de-occupied in early April 2022, but the Russians are still holding 228 residents of Kyiv, 25 of Chernihiv and 35 of Sumy.
The largest number of abducted civilians was identified by the HRMMU in Kherson region – at least 526, including 204 abducted in Kherson.
For more information on the number of abducted Ukrainian civilians and where exactly it happened, see the infographic of the MIPL.
The infographic contains data on those civilians identified by the HRMMU documenters. There are many more Ukrainians abducted and illegally held in captivity.
After abduction, civilians may be held in detention facilities in the occupied territories of Ukraine for some time, but the general practice of the Russians is to deport as many people as possible to Russia. In almost all Russian prisons and detention centres, Ukrainians are subjected to torture. Subsequently, illegal trials are initiated against arbitrarily detained civilians on trumped-up cases. This entire system of crimes – illegal detention, abduction, detention, torture, deportation, illegal transfer and fabricated trials – has the hallmarks of a crime against humanity.
Main image: Arkhangelske village in Kherson region after de-occupation. Author: Viktor Kovalchuk
The material was prepared with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The material represents the position of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.
