The best my brother can hope for in captivity is a 10-year prison sentence — the sister of a civilian hostage

Kyrylo Rozumey is a civilian hostage of the Russians. He was abducted in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, on May 4, 2023. At the time of his abduction, he had just turned 18. For 10 months, the family searched tirelessly for him in the dark. Eventually, Kyrylo was discovered in the Russian Federation, detained in Detention Centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don. The Russians subjected him to torture, coercing him to incriminate himself and falsely confess to being a «spy». He now faces charges of «espionage», and under this article of the Russian criminal code, he could be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.

We spoke with his sister, Daria Sakhno, to learn more about Kyrylo’s current situation.

When Kyrylo disappeared, we searched for him tirelessly for nearly a year…

Daria Sakhno: We were unaware that he had been taken from the occupied territory. We gathered information piecemeal. Once the Russians took him away, we learned he was held in the basement of the police station in Nova Kakhovka. We found out through acquaintances, who unfortunately turned out to be collaborators. Despite this, they maintained contact with us and confirmed Kyrylo’s whereabouts.

However, following the explosion at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, the police building in Nova Kakhovka was flooded. I fretted over not knowing whether the detainees had been relocated. While reassured they were relocated, their new whereabouts remained unknown.

So, from June 6th until the end of September, Kyrylo’s whereabouts eluded us. Continuously, we searched nearby settlements housing detention facilities. My mother and grandmother went from place to place, inquiring about him. Everywhere, the response was negative.

In early September, someone messaged me claiming to be with my brother in the basement of a building in Kalanchak. I relayed this to my mother, who journeyed to Kalanchak, only to be informed that all detainees had been transferred to Simferopol. Yet, in Simferopol, there was no trace of him.

We submitted inquiries everywhere, including to all occupation law enforcement agencies. Responses varied, from acknowledging procedural violations to claims that requests were under review. It wasn’t until February 4th, 2024, that I received a letter from the «Commissioner for Human Rights in Crimea» stating they found no grounds to pursue Kyrylo Rozumey’s disappearance, a stance allegedly confirmed by Kyrylo himself.

On February 7th, my father received a call from a state lawyer in Russia, informing him that Kyrylo had been detained on charges of espionage, with investigations ongoing. However, his whereabouts remained undisclosed. We were only provided with a photo of Kyrylo by his lawyer.

About a week later, an investigator contacted us, revealing Kyrylo’s location: Detention Centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don.

Why was Kyrylo detained?

Daria Sakhno: Kyrylo was apprehended while riding his bike from Nova Kakhovka to Tavriysk. Our grandmother, who suffers from cancer, resides in Nova Kakhovka, and Kyrylo cared for her. Another grandmother, living in Tavriysk, also required assistance with groceries and medication. Hence, Kyrylo commuted between them several times a week. It was during one of these trips that he vanished.

On the night of his disappearance, Russian soldiers armed with guns visited Kyrylo’s girlfriend, interrogating her about my brother. They also questioned Kyrylo’s best friend, conducting a more aggressive interrogation in the basement, scrutinizing all his gadgets. Their inquiries focused solely on Kyrylo.

I can only surmise that the Russian military found something objectionable on my brother’s phone. I lack any other information regarding the cause of his detention.

In the village where our parents reside, and where Kyrylo lived, a collaborator assumed the role of «head of the village». Kyrylo had previously criticized this individual on social media. Subsequently, this «head of the village» approached our parents, issuing threats concerning their son’s remarks.

Therefore, I speculate that Kyrylo’s detention may have been prompted by a tip-off.

Did the state lawyer attempt to ensure Kyrylo’s defense?

Daria Sakhno: The state lawyer, Anna Aleksandrovna, did not disclose Kyrylo’s place of detention, communication channels, or provide any documentation during her initial call. Even after sending his photo, no documents were provided. Subsequent attempts to contact her were unsuccessful, and she did not initiate further communication.

She did not indicate any intent to defend my brother or attempt to pursue a favorable outcome in the case. She merely mentioned Kyrylo’s «confession», implying a bleak outlook.

Upon realizing Kyrylo’s whereabouts, I reached out to the NGO «Search. Polon«. They responded promptly. I submitted my application on February 22, and by February 25, they had secured a lawyer for Kyrylo, who promptly visited him.

What did the lawyer report?

Daria Sakhno: The lawyer reported that Kyrylo displayed signs of torture from electric shocks and was severely psychologically distressed. He noted a significant change in Kyrylo’s demeanor, with a profound lack of vitality in his eyes, which deeply disturbed me.

Kyrylo advised against visiting him, understanding the risks involved. He described his experiences in Taganrog as hellish but mentioned feeling relatively stable now. He shared that his cell, housing 13 inmates, only had 10 beds, all occupied by Ukrainians.

Despite the challenging conditions, he found solace in camaraderie and wisdom shared among fellow inmates. He urged us to remain safe, carry on with our lives, and pray for his swift return, refraining from requesting assistance.

What guidance did the lawyer offer?

Daria Sakhno: We had a sobering discussion. The lawyer emphasized that Ukrainian prisoners rarely prevail in espionage cases.

Kyrylo faced a potential sentence of 10 to 20 years, with a 10-year term being the most optimistic outcome. He stressed the inevitability of a conviction in Russia, regardless of the evidence presented.

He informed me about the Zonatelecom app for sending letters and parcels and provided guidance on navigating legal procedures and protecting Kyrylo from unlawful actions by the Russian authorities. He instructed me to engage with Ukrainian organizations involved in exchanges and ensure Kyrylo’s inclusion on all relevant lists. I’ve taken these steps and reached out to the International Committee of the Red Cross and various NGOs, leaving no stone unturned.

Why hasn’t Kyrylo’s story been publicized earlier?

Daria Sakhno: I remained silent until October, hoping for Kyrylo’s release after whatever «re-education’ they intended. I also pursued avenues independently. Eventually, I sought out individuals whose relatives shared Kyrylo’s fate, initially fearful of jeopardizing his safety.

However, when I publicly sought information and received confirmation from a fellow detainee in Kalanchak, I felt a sense of relief knowing Kyrylo was alive and seen. Realizing the gravity of his situation and his uncertain future prompted me to involve the community.

Read also: In captivity, one lives by smells and sounds, the odor of a decaying body still lingers with me — Angela Slobodyan

«I was accused of not rescuing my brother, but he’s not a possession…»

Daria Sakhno: Discovering Kyrylo’s whereabouts brought immense relief after months of uncertainty about his survival. We endured the torment of imagined horrors, haunted by memories of past atrocities like those in Bucha.

Seeing Kyrylo’s photo in captivity, I witnessed a stark transformation – the vibrant individual I knew before was now a shell of himself. His once bright blue eyes were now red, inflamed, and hollow, seemingly aged beyond his years.

Many people accuse me of being responsible for Kirill’s captivity because I didn’t evacuate him during the occupation. However, it’s crucial to understand that Kyrylo was only 17 years old when the occupation began. I couldn’t have taken him out without his parents’ consent. Moreover, Kyrylo isn’t an object I could simply transport away in a car. He’s a unique individual with his own personality and worldview.

It’s worth noting that due to Russian armed aggression, over 30,000 Ukrainian citizens are currently considered missing under special circumstances. These include civilians, military personnel, and children.

According to Oleksandr Kononenko, the representative of the Ombudsman in the system of security and defense institutions, there are approximately 1,687 officially confirmed cases of civilian imprisonment. These individuals have either been unlawfully deprived of their freedom, become victims of enforced disappearances, or have been unjustly convicted. Among them, 857 people have been confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In times of war, the program «Free our relatives» 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 Igor Kotelianets and Anastasia Bagalika.

This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the framework of the Human Rights in Action Program implemented by Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. Opinions, conclusions and recommendations presented in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government. The contents are the responsibility of the authors.

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