The Ukraine Solidarity Network in the United States demands the immediate repatriation of Denys Matsola and Vladislav Zhuravlev. Both of these soldiers participated in the defense of Mariupol as Marines from Battalion 501 and are long time left wing activists with years of experience in the fight for human rights, social justice, and against all forms of authoritarianism, from Putin to the Ukrainian oligarchic regime.
Who are Denys Matsola and Vladislav Zhuravlev?
- Denys Matsola is a publicist, political scientist, human rights activist and former member of the independent left-wing student union “Direct Action” and was part of the socialist organization “Social Movement”. In Crimea, he defended the environment, supported the Crimean Tatar resistance movement and, after the occupation, helped the Ukrainian army. Working in Kyiv and Lviv, he participated in the evacuation of civilians, documented war crimes and published analyses. Denis joined the army voluntarily in 2021, convinced that defending Ukraine is also a fight for the future of social justice and freedom.
- Vladislav “Iskra” Zhuravlev is an anarchist, artist and volunteer. Before the war, he actively participated in grassroots cultural and social initiatives, spoke out against political repression in Crimea and publicly supported the ideas of autonomy, solidarity and self-government. Since 2017 he served in a marine infantry battalion, where he later invited Denys.
Both Denys and Vladislav have been held captive for 3 years under abusive conditions and have reportedly been tortured. Denys Matsola has been held in solitary confinement for two years, with food frequently withheld by his captors.
The USN calls of the government of Ukraine to place Denys Matsola and Vladislav Zhuravlev on priority lists for exchange, and to make every effort to secure their release. In Ukraine, the General Command for Coordination of Treatment of Prisoners of War, is responsible for coordination of the preparation and implementation of POW exchanges, including list building, logistics and interaction with international organizations.
Further, we call on international human rights organizations, governments, leftist, and anti-authoritarian movements around the world to demand an end to torture, the guarantee of the basic rights of prisoners of war, and to use all political and media mechanisms to put pressure on the Russian Federation. We demand that the Russian Federation account for all prisoners and immediately cease mistreatment and torture of prisoners.
During the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian forces have captured thousands of prisoners of war from among Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian government estimates as many as 8,000 POWs and other sources claim as many as 16,000. Precise numbers are difficult to arrive at, in part because Russia has denied access to prisoners by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which means that the real number of prisoners and the condition of their captivity is unknown.
In recent weeks, there has been a series of prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the return of hundreds of bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Returning POWs and human rights organizations report poor conditions, mistreatment and torture of prisoners of war. At least 200 POWs have died from abuse in Russian prisons, and another 245 were murdered after being captured on the battlefield. Additionally, there are approximately 16,000 Ukrainian civilians imprisoned by the Russian occupiers, not counting the nearly 20,000 children Ukraine has documented.
According to Amnesty International’s International Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, “Russia’s systemic incommunicado detention of Ukrainian POWs and civilians reflects a deliberate policy designed to dehumanize and silence them, leaving their families in agony as they wait for news about their loved ones.”
An Amnesty International report continues, “Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are considered “missing in special circumstances” by Ukrainian authorities. Many are likely in detention, while others may have been killed. In some cases, Russia has acknowledged individual POWs’ captivity by notifying the ICRC as required by international law. However, it is likely that Russia has not notified the ICRC of the status of hundreds or thousands more POWs.”
Free Denys Matsola and Vladislav Zhuravlev!
Free All Ukrainian Prisoners of War!