Life Before The Detention

Kyrylo Barannik was born on February 8, 1998, and lived in Simferopol with his retired mother until his detention.

From childhood, his life was closely connected to sports, and Kyrylo chose orienteering as his discipline. His perseverance and diligence paid off, as he earned the title of Master of Sports of Ukraine in orienteering. He was well-known within the Crimean and nationwide orienteering community, where he was valued as a talented and promising athlete.

Kyrylo represented Ukraine in numerous national and international competitions. Notably, in 2014, he competed at the European Youth Orienteering Championship in Macedonia. His participation under the Ukrainian flag demonstrated not only a high level of skill but also personal dedication to his country.

Despite the challenging conditions of life in occupied Crimea, Kyrylo maintained a clear pro-Ukrainian stance. He always considered his Ukrainian identity an inseparable part of his life.

Persecution

On May 30, 2023, Kyrylo Barannik was illegally detained by FSB officers in Simferopol. According to eyewitnesses, he was seized in broad daylight on the embankment of the Salhir River, had a sack placed over his head, and was taken away for interrogation.

Initially, he was accused of alleged involvement in a “sabotage” on the railway near the village of Poshtove in the Bakhchysarai district, which occurred in February 2023. Over time, the charges were artificially expanded and intensified, adding allegations of “state treason,” “participation in the activities of a terrorist organization,” “illegal possession of explosive devices,” “smuggling of explosives,” “preparation of a terrorist act,” and “commission of an act of terrorism.”

Behind the bars

Kyrylo Barannik is currently held in Simferopol Detention Center No. 2, awaiting trial in Rostov-on-Don.

After his detention, Kyrylo was subjected to severe pressure from FSB officers. He reported being tortured with electric shocks, beaten, and subjected to simulated drowning. He was also threatened with violence against his relatives. Electrodes were attached to his fingers, toes, earlobes, and buttocks, and during the simulated drowning, his hands and feet were tied, a cloth was placed over his face, and water was poured. His lawyer documented numerous signs of torture on his body, including burns, bruises, and swellings. The Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman reported that after such abuse, Kyrylo suffered from kidney pain and partial loss of sensitivity in his right hand.

Despite the brutal pressure and violence, Barannik refused to admit guilt and stated that he did not know other individuals implicated in the case. His resilience is a vivid testament to courage and steadfastness even under the harshest conditions of imprisonment.