Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are being held captive by Russia. Many have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories. Their families often spend months without knowing where they are being held. Behind each of these stories is a person whose life has been changed by the Russian occupation.
As part of Café Kyiv Mini at Berlin Freedom Week, we will share the stories of two Ukrainian civilians through their personal letters.
Robin Wagener, member of the German Bundestag, will read a letter from Kostiantyn Zinovkin. The Ukrainian engineer was abducted in Russian-occupied Melitopol in May 2023. For a long time, his family did not know where he was being held. In September 2026, a Russian military court sentenced him to 28 years in prison.
Ira Ganzhorn from LIBERECO will read a letter from Oksana Senedzhuk. The Ukrainian activist from Sevastopol publicly spoke out against the Russian occupation of Crimea. In December 2024, a Russian occupation court sentenced her to 15 years in prison.
Following the reading, we will discuss the conditions in which Ukrainian civilian prisoners are held, the support they and their families need, and how we can show solidarity and take action together.
Moderator: Jan Henrik Wiebe, LIBERECO – Partnership for Human Rights
Tickets for the conference are available on the official website.