As part of the #10yearsofResistance information campaign, we continue to tell the stories of Ukrainian citizens who were illegally imprisoned for their resistance to the occupiers on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula. Today we bring to your attention the story of an activist and volunteer, retired Ukrainian Navy officer, and former commander of the Slavutych ship Oleksii Kyselov, who was illegally sentenced by the Russian occupiers to 8 years and 6 months in a maximum security prison for his active civic position and support of Ukraine.

Life before the detention

Oleksii Kyselov is a Captain 1st Class in the Ukrainian Naval Forces Reserve, former commander of the Ukrainian Navy reconnaissance ship Slavutych, and a public figure, activist, and volunteer. Until 2014, Mr. Kyselov lived in Sevastopol and was engaged in social activism. At the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War, when Russian troops occupied the Crimean Peninsula, he moved to the city of Henichesk, Kherson region, choosing this city to be as close to his native Crimea as possible. In Henichesk, Oleksii tried to build a new life: he worked and created the Migrant-SOS public organization, where he helped IDPs from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, in every possible way. Unfortunately, in 2022, after the start of the full-scale invasion, the city of Henichesk also got under Russian occupation. The Russians came to take away Oleksii Kyselov’s home for the second time. But despite the danger, despite the risks, Mr. Kyselov continued to help his fellow citizens affected by the Russian occupation, working for the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. 

What did the occupiers come up with?

During the occupation, the Russians always used the same strategy. First of all, they are looking for those citizens who have an active civic position, any connection with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteer experience, etc. That’s why military retiree and activist Oleksii Kyselov was one of the first to be targeted by the occupiers. 

On July 22, 2022, Oleksii was abducted by the Russian occupiers in broad daylight on his way to the Red Cross Office in Henichesk. Right outside the building, a minibus with unidentified people approached him, they threw a sack over the pensioner’s head and forced him into the car. First, they went to the apartment where Oleksii lived and organized a so-called “search” during which they stole some of the activist’s belongings and some money, but they did not find anything that could be used as the “evidence”. For several days, the Russians kept him in the basement of a local school, which the occupiers converted into the “headquarters of the National Guard of the Russian Federation”. There, the elderly man was tortured: beaten, and subjected to electric shocks. Everything was done to obtain information about the “members and leaders of the Territorial Defence Forces of Henichesk”. Oleksii had no such information. After 5 days of torture, he was handed over to the Federal Security Service at the administrative border with Crimea. This was the official reason for his detention: allegedly, “an illegal attempt to cross the administrative border with Crimea on his own”. The Federal Security Service took him to Simferopol, where Oleksii was subjected to further interrogations. Once again, he had no information.

Oleksii’s relatives found out about the transfer to Simferopol quite quickly: on the evening of July 27, they received a call from the lawyer assigned to the man, who informed them of his location and that criminal proceedings were being initiated against him.

About communication with human rights defenders

Oleksii’s relatives, who currently reside in the territory controlled by Ukraine, with the help of sympathetic people, managed to find a lawyer who defends those accused by the occupiers in similar cases. The family communicated with Oleksii with the help of the lawyer: they received letters from Oleksii in which he described these events. The proceedings lasted more than a year, although it was clear from the very beginning that there was no chance of justice. 

Oleksii was charged with the second part of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for allegedly participating in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion, which is considered a terrorist organization in Russia. In addition, Oleksii was charged with participation in the “blockade of Crimea”. However, all the charges and case files are fabricated. This is also confirmed by the work of the lawyer: he searched for unbiased experts who denied the possible veracity of the “facts” in the case.

Reason for detention

Oleksii Kyselov has been pro-Ukrainian all his life and was engaged in public and political activism in Crimea before its occupation. As a retired officer, he remained loyal to his oath of office and loyalty to Ukraine. It was Oleksii’s patriotism and activism that became the real reason for his detention and subsequent imprisonment, as the Russian occupation forces tried to suppress any pro-Ukrainian voices. This is especially noticeable in the newly occupied territories, where Russian security forces are looking for active Ukrainian citizens and kidnapping or eliminating them, as they are a threat to the stability of the occupation regime.

Where is Oleksii Kyselov now? 

In September 2023, Oleksii Kyselov was transferred to the city of Vladimir, to the infamous Vladimir Central Prison, where he is still being held in captivity. Prison No. 2 in the Vladimir region is a place of illegal detention for many Ukrainian citizens who are recognized by Russia as so-called “particularly dangerous criminals.” 

It is currently unknown what is happening with Oleksii’s health. In his letters, he reassures his relatives, talking about “normal conditions” and a “satisfactory state of health”. However, from the available photos from the trial, relatives noticed that he had lost a lot of weight. In addition, in 2022, Oleksii went on a hunger strike because he was denied a medical examination after Russian torture, during which his arm was also broken or dislocated.

It is also known that Oleksii faces additional difficulties in prison. For example, the money that is transferred to his account for purchases in prison does not actually get to him. In addition, he is subject to additional fines: Oleksii was fined 8,000 rubles for an allegedly “broken surveillance camera” in the Simferopol detention center. However, Oleksii himself writes that the camera was hanging too high to reach it, and it was also in a protective grid. 

About contacting Oleksii 

Relatives manage to maintain periodic correspondence, but not all letters they send are answered. If a response is received, it is with a significant delay. In addition, despite the declared right to official calls from prison, no calls are actually provided. There is also a problem with the deliveries to the prison. 

Despite the torture and horrors of Russian imprisonment, Oleksii continues to fight. Oleksii’s relatives say that he is a truly unwavering person who never gives up. He always keeps to himself and supports everyone around him, even in the most difficult situations. 

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The materials were prepared within the framework of the information campaign #10yearsofResistance in cooperation with the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine. The information campaign is part of the events dedicated to the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.