Anhelina Skyba is a political prisoner
The widow of a Ukrainian serviceman who died in Russian captivity was sentenced to 13 years in prison for money transfers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Anhelina Skyba is a resident of Mariupol and holds both Ukrainian and Russian citizenship. Her husband served in the Azov unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, took part in the defence of Mariupol, and died in Russian captivity from starvation at the age of 28.
In late July 2025, Skyba was detained in Russia’s Pskov Oblast, reportedly while attempting to cross the Russian–Estonian border. She was initially placed under administrative arrest on a fabricated charge of petty hooliganism and was then remanded in custody in a criminal case.
According to the investigation, while in Ukraine in 2024–2025, Skyba made six money transfers totalling approximately 6,855 roubles to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and, specifically, the Azov unit. On the basis of these transfers, she was charged with high treason (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code) and financing terrorism (Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). The prosecution argued that because Skyba’s husband served in the Ukrainian military, she understood that she was assisting activities directed against Russia’s security.
The defence maintained that the transfers were made under duress and asked the court to take into account the severe circumstances of Skyba’s life during the war, including the prolonged period she spent in a bomb shelter and her participation in humanitarian relief efforts for Mariupol residents. In her final statement, Skyba did not address the charges, but simply wept and asked the court to impose the lightest possible sentence.
In March 2026, the court sentenced Anhelina Skyba to 13 years’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony.
We consider the charge of financing terrorism to be unfounded. The Azov unit, which the prosecution claims was intended to receive part of the transfers, is part of the National Guard of Ukraine, and its activities constitute lawful military action in defence of the state against armed aggression, not terrorism. We believe that designating it as a terrorist organisation is contrary to international law. The charge of high treason is likewise unfounded, since providing assistance to Ukraine in resisting armed aggression cannot reasonably be regarded as activity directed against Russia’s security.
The charge of high treason is particularly questionable given that Skyba was a resident of occupied Mariupol. It is highly likely that she acquired Russian citizenship through the unlawful passportisation imposed by the occupying authorities. This enabled the Russian state to convict her of betraying a country that destroyed and occupied her city and held her husband in captivity under inhumane conditions that led to his death. For that reason, her prosecution is especially outrageous.
A detailed description of Anhelina Skyba’s is a political prisoner’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Anhelina Skyba at the following address:
RU:
180000, г. Псков, ул. Некрасова, д. 39, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Псковской области, Скиба Ангелина Сергеевна, 2000 г. р.
EN:
Anhelina Serhiivna Skyba (born 2000)
Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Pskov Oblast, 39 Nekrasova St., Pskov, 180000, Russia
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
