Almost 1000 people from the 36th Brigade were captured but only 100 returned — wife of a captured Mariupol defender

In the new episode of the program «Free our loved ones», we tell the story of a war hero, the Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Svynarchuk. From the 36th Marine Brigade, he was taken prisoner by the Russians during the battle for Mariupol in the spring of 2022. The occupants held a show trial, accused him of killing civilians and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Olena Komarova, his wife, shares insights into the tragic events surrounding Oleksandr Svynarchuk’s capture and the uncertainty of his future.

«On 21 November, a video appeared about the ‘trial’ and the ‘verdict’. In the video, I saw my husband. He was so thin, those fingers…. It was so hard to look at him. There is a big difference between what he was like before he was captured and what he is like now. I don’t know how to describe his emotional state in connection with this life sentence. He is physically and mentally very exhausted» – said Olena Komarova.

Oleksandr Svynarchuk, a defender of Mariupol from the 36th Brigade, was captured by the Russians and subjected to a show trial on charges of murdering civilians. His wife, Olena Komarova, said after watching the propaganda video that her husband was physically and mentally exhausted. 

«He is accused, in particular, of having allegedly ‘ordered the killing of 37 civilians in Mariupol’. His two brothers in arms were forced to testify that ‘he really did it’».

According to Komarova, the soldier has been sentenced to life imprisonment, but it is not yet known if he has been provided with a lawyer. The International Committee of the Red Cross has no information on Oleksandr’s whereabouts.

«The International Committee of the Red Cross knows nothing about the whereabouts of my husband. I know that he should have been provided with a Russian state lawyer, but judging by the video from the courtroom, there is no lawyer».

Olena expresses her indignation and concern that a life prisoner could be used as an object of exchange after the war. It is noted that Svynarchuk left Mariupol when his wife was six months pregnant. Their son is already a year and five months old, but he has never seen his dad – only in photos. 

«We discussed names with him and we had two options – Zakhar and Pavlo. Pavlo is in honour of our deceased friend Pavlo Zbitov, and we thought of giving him that name if I gave birth on 12 July. But I gave birth on 6 July, so we have Zakhar».

Komarova also says that there is currently no information about her husband’s next steps and fate, and points to the uncertainty and concern for his family, in particular his son.

«Not many prisoners of war from the 36th Brigade returned home – about 100 people. But more than a thousand were captured», – said Olena Komarova.

Olena Komarova expresses hope that international human rights defenders and the International Committee of the Red Cross will be able to establish the whereabouts of her husband and influence his fate in Russian captivity.

«I think that as a life-sentenced prisoner, he is of greater value because he can be exchanged for the same people who are sentenced to life imprisonment in Ukraine».

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In times of war, the program «Free our loved ones» tells the stories of people, cities, villages, and entire regions that have been captured by Russian invaders. We discuss the war crimes committed by the Kremlin and its troops against the Ukrainian people.

The program is hosted by Ihor Levchenko and Anastasia Bagalika.