28 July – Day of Remembrance for those who died in captivity

Today, on 28 July, we commemorate for the first time at the national level those Ukrainian defenders who were executed, tortured, or died in captivity. This date was established in remembrance of the cynical terrorist attack on the night of July 28-29, 2022, at a prison colony near Olenivka, where Azovstal defenders were held. At least 53 Ukrainian defenders were killed, and over 130 were injured.

Russian captivity is one of the most horrific aspects of this war. Torture, beatings, humiliation, torture by starvation, sexual violence, lack of medical care are what Ukrainian citizens experience in captivity in the aggressor country. Or rather, they do not survive, and this is a particularly sharp pain that we all feel when confronted with brutality that should not exist in the modern world. Through the treatment of prisoners, we see the true face of our enemy: it is ugly and sadistic, like the entire Putin system that bred such torturers. It gives us a clear understanding of the evil we are dealing with. And it strengthens us to fight for everyone who is still in captivity.

We thank everyone who speaks out: families, human rights activists, journalists, government agencies, and civil society organisations. The world must know the stories of Ukrainian prisoners of war in order to put even more pressure on the aggressor state. We believe that every prisoner of war will return home. And their tormentors will receive just punishment.

May those who were martyred, shot, and killed be remembered forever. Glory to the heroes!