Fourteen Ukrainian soldiers from the Noman Çelebicihan 48th Separate Assault Battalion are political prisoners
Fourteen Ukrainian prisoners of war have been sentenced on terrorism charges to terms of imprisonment ranging from 14 to 20 years
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers fourteen prisoners of war political prisoners. Yevhen Batoh, Ivan Kovbasiuk, Mykyta Kucher, Oleh Myruk, Bohdan Musikhin, Ivan Perepelytsia, Dmytro Stadnikov, Yevhen Tolstyi, Yurii Tsiupak, Ihor Varchuk, Volodymyr Volskyi, Serhii Vorseniuk, Serhii Yatskov and Oleksandr Yevdokymenko were Ukrainian soldiers convicted of participating in a terrorist organization and undergoing terrorist training for serving in the Noman Çelebicihan 48th Separate Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces. The prosecutions and convictions of the 14 men violated their right to a fair trial and the provisions of the Geneva Convention regarding the treatment of prisoners of war. We demand that all convictions be quashed and that the fourteen Ukrainian prisoners of war be treated in compliance with international law.
What were the charges against the fourteen Ukrainian soldiers from the 48th Assault Battalion?
Fourteen Ukrainian citizens who served in the Noman Çelebicihan 48th Separate Assault Battalion of the armed forces of Ukraine were taken prisoner during combat operations in 2024–2025. They are: Yevhen Batoh, Ivan Kovbasiuk, Mykyta Kucher, Oleh Myruk, Bohdan Musikhin, Ivan Perepelytsia, Dmytro Stadnikov, Yevhen Tolstyi, Yurii Tsiupak, Ihor Varchuk, Volodymyr Volskyi, Serhii Vorseniuk, Serhii Yatskov and Oleksandr Yevdokymenko. In Russia, criminal cases have been opened against the 14 on charges of ‘participating in a terrorist organisation’ (Article 205.5, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and ‘undergoing training in terrorism’ (Article 205.3 CC RF).
The investigative authorities claimed that all 14 men joined the Noman Çelebicihan Crimean Tatar Volunteer Battalion, which has been designated in Russia as a terrorist organisation, underwent ‘training in terrorist activities’ and participated in combat operations. However, the charges relate to military service and the performance of combat missions as part of a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces (Noman Çelebicihan 48th Separate Assault Battalion).
Thirteen of the cases were heard by the Southern District Military Court. According to our information, the servicemen were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 14 to 20 years, to be served first in cell-type prisons and then in strict regime penal colonies. The trial of Yurii Tsiupak is yet to take place.
Why do we consider the 14 Ukrainian POWs political prisoners?
The charges against the prisoners of war are based solely on the fact that they served in the Noman Çelebicihan 48th Separate Assault Battalion, a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces established in 2023. Russian courts equate this military unit with the Noman Çelebicihan Crimean Tatar Volunteer Battalion, a civic organisation that existed from 2015 to 2017 and was designated a terrorist organisation in Russia in 2022. We consider this decision unlawful. The Noman Çelebicihan 48th Separate Assault Battalion is part of the Ukrainian armed forces and is subordinate to the Ukrainian military command.
Applying counterterrorism legislation to prisoners of war solely for participating in an armed conflict violates both Russian and international law, including the provisions of the Geneva Convention which prohibit the prosecution of combatants for performing their military duties. To the best of our knowledge, none of the prisoners of war has been charged with committing war crimes.
The criminal prosecution of Ukrainian service personnel for participating in combat operations is unlawful and politically motivated.
Detailed descriptions of the cases of the 14 prisoners of war and of our position are available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to them at the following addresses:
RU:
Российская Федерация, 283086, г. Донецк, ул. Кобозева, д. 4, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Донецкой народной республике, Ворсенюк Сергей Валентинович, 1991 г. Р.
EN:
Serhii Valentynovych Vorseniuk (born 1991), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Donetsk People’s Republic, 4 Kobozeva Street, Donetsk, 283086, Russian Federation
While we respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, to ensure letters reach their intended recipients in the occupied territories, addresses need to be in accordance with Russian regulations.
RU:
Российская Федерация, 344022, г. Ростов-на-Дону, ул. Максима Горького, д. 219, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Ростовской области,
Мусихин Богдан Евгеньевич, 1997 г. р.
Цюпак Юрий Юрьевич, 1971 г. р.
EN:
Bohdan Yevhenovych Musikhin (born 1997)
Yurii Yuriyovych Tsiupak (born 1971)
Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Rostov Oblast, 219 Maksima Gorkogo Street, Rostov-on-Don, 344022, Russian Federation
RU:
Российская Федерация, 433503, Ульяновская область, г. Димитровград, ул. Калугина, д. 66, ФКУ Т УФСИН России по Ульяновской области, Яцков Сергей Александрович, 1980 г. р.
EN:
Serhii Oleksandrovych Yatskov (born 1980), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Ulyanovsk Oblast, 66 Kalugina Street, Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Oblast, 433503, Russian Federation
RU:
Российская Федерация, 600020, г. Владимир, ул. Большая Нижегородская, д. 67, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Владимирской области,
Варчук Игорь Фёдорович, 1992 г. р.
Мирук Олег Ярославович, 1988 г. р.
Перепелица Иван Иванович, 1998 г. р.
EN:
Ihor Fedorovych Varchuk (born 1992),
Oleh Yaroslavovych Myruk (born 1988),
Ivan Ivanovych Perepelytsia (born 1998),
Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Vladimir Oblast, 67 Bolshaya Nizhegorodskaya Street, Vladimir, 600020, Russian Federation
RU:
Российская Федерация, 400080, г. Волгоград, ул. им. Довженко, д. 34Б, ФКУ СИЗО-4 УФСИН России по Волгоградской области, Батог Евгений Александрович, 2002 г. р.
EN:
Yevhen Oleksandrovych Batoh (born 2002), Remand Prison No. 4, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Volgograd Oblast, 34 B imeni Dovzhenko Street, Volgograd, 400080, Russian Federation.
RU:
Российская Федерация, 457670, Челябинская область, г. Верхнеуральск, ул. Северная, д. 1, ФКУ Т ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области, Евдокименко Александр Павлович, 1988 г. р.
EN:
Yevdokymenko Oleksandr Pavlovych (born 1988), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Chelyabinsk Oblast, 1 Severnay Street, Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, 457670, Russian Federation.
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If you have information as to the places of detention of the other prisoners, please let us know by email at [email protected]
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