Shocking cases of abduction, detention in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine: audio report

At a conference in Warsaw last week, Ukrainian NGOs disclosed shocking cases of kidnapped citizens, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine since the start of Moscow's invasion. 

Ukrainian activists attend an anti-war rally in Kyiv this week.

Photo: EPA/OLEG PETRASYUK

As of late April, more than 60 human rights activists and local officials had remained missing.

In the Kherson region, the Russian occupiers abducted Viktor Pendalchuk, the principal of a school in Kakhovka. His whereabouts are unknown. pic.twitter.com/71p9lMU6CW

— ZMINA. Human Rights Centre (@zminaUkraine) April 30, 2022

Russian occupiers abducted Ihor Protokovil in the town of Nova Kakhovka in the #Kherson region. Pritokovil is a deputy of the Novokakhovka City Council. His whereabouts are unknown.#TheTaken#PutinWarCrimes pic.twitter.com/gIQwFzayWY

— ZMINA. Human Rights Centre (@zminaUkraine) May 2, 2022

There have been some 70 cases of released activists and seven deaths.

To find out more, Klaudiusz Madeja spoke to Tetiana Pechonchyk, head of the Zmina Human Rights Centre in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

Now officially on Wikipedia in 20 languages. Rashism is a new kind of fascism pic.twitter.com/Ky0vMqPc8r

— Tetiana Pechonchyk (@penshark) May 2, 2022

Click on the audio player above to hear the interview.