Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika are political prisoners
Three Ukrainian women from Kherson Oblast have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment of up to 12 years six months on charges of financing the Ukrainian armed forces
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ukrainian citizens Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika political prisoners. The three women were convicted of treason for donating money to the Ukrainian armed forces. Their criminal prosecutions and convictions violated their right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika and that all criminal charges against them be dropped.
What were the charges against Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika?
Olha Hulchak, 43, lived in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast, which has been partially occupied by Russian troops since 2022. After the occupation began, Hulchak was forced to accept Russian citizenship. In the autumn of 2024, she was detained on a charge of ‘treason in the form of providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation’ (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to the investigative authorities, in August-September 2023 Hulchak made several donations to the Ukrainian armed forces to a total of 1,200 hryvnia (about €23).
Yuliia Stanika, 30, lived in the town of Hola Prystan in Kherson Oblast with her young daughter. On account of her Russian passport, Stanika was also detained on charges of treason in March or April 2025. She was charged with having made donations to the Ukrainian army between September 2023 and January 2024.
Olena Penza, 54, from Nova Kakhovka, worked in a bank and also obtained a Russian passport. She was also charged with treason for donations made in January and March 2024 ‘to the account of a foreign bank.’
According to the investigative authorities, all three women made donations intended ‘for the financial support and logistical provision of Ukrainian armed formations.’
On 9 June 2025, Olha Hulchak was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony with one year’s probation on release and a fine of 100,000 roubles. On 21 July 2025, Olena Penza was given the same sentence. On 23 October, Yuliia Stanika was sentenced to 12 years six months in a penal colony with a further two years’ probation on release.
Why do we consider Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika political prisoners?
Russia had no right to try residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine under Russian law. It is also illegal that Ukrainians have been forced to accept Russian citizenship. Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika are first and foremost citizens of Ukraine, and their prosecution for treason against Russia, which attacked their country and is violating their rights under occupation, is illegal and absurd.
At the same time, we consider the prosecution on a charge of ‘treason in connection with the financing of the Ukrainian army’ unfounded. Russia’s security is threatened by the aggressive war unleashed by its authorities, not by opposition to this aggression.
You can read more about prosecutions for donating to Ukraine, including by residents of the occupied territories, here.
Detailed descriptions of the cases of Olha Hulchak, Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Olha Hulchak at the following address:
RU:
429820, Чувашская республика – Чувашия, г. Алатырь, ул. Гагарина, д. 325, ФКУ ИК-2 УФСИН России по Чувашской Республике – Чувашии, Гульчак Ольга Владимировна, 1982 г. р.
EN:
Olha Volodymyrivna Hulchak (born 1982), Penal Colony No. 2, Federal Penitentiary service for the Chuvash Republic, 325 Gagarina Street, Alatyr, Chuvash Republic, 429820, Russia.
If you have information about the places of detention where Olena Penza and Yuliia Stanika are being held, please let us know by email: [email protected].
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
