Detention: On the night of February 2, 2024, in occupied Simferopol. Russian security forces detained Volodymyr Ananyev at an acquaintance's apartment. Officially, the FSB of Russia announced his detention on February 5, 2024, but human rights defenders and Ananyev's wife report that the actual detention occurred earlier, on the night of February 2. After his detention, he was initially charged with illegal acquisition and storage of explosives, later with aiding in the preparation of a terrorist act and preparing an assassination attempt on a representative of the occupying authorities of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov.

Sentence: As of September 6, 2026, Volodymyr Ananyev remains in custody, and his case is being considered by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. Ananyev denies the charges and claims they are fabricated. In February 2025, the indictment in his case was approved and forwarded to the court. The charges brought by the Russian side threaten him with a long prison term of 10 years.

Volodymyr Vasylovych Ananyev was born on August 10, 1949, in Ivano-Frankivsk region. In 2026, he turned 77 years old. When Volodymyr was three, his family moved to Kerch. It was in Crimea that his childhood passed, and his connection to the peninsula was formed. After finishing school, Ananyev moved to Kyiv, where he lived and worked.

In adulthood, Volodymyr Ananyev engaged in public, legal, and journalistic activities. By education, he is an economist. He dedicated a significant part of his work to land reform issues and the protection of landowners' rights. In the early 2000s, Ananyev visited Crimea as a representative of the public organization 'Union of Land Owners,' helping people formalize land shares and exit collective farms. He provided free consultations to the residents of Crimea and helped them defend their rights.

After the occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, his connection with the peninsula did not cease. Ananyev continued to support people he had known for many years and also defended the believers of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Representatives of Ukrainian human rights organizations describe him as a person with an active civic position. The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, also emphasized Ananyev's long-standing activities related to the protection of people's rights in Crimea.

Volodymyr Ananyev is married. His wife is Anna Svyatnenko. Despite living in Kyiv, Ananyev regularly visited Crimea for many years. According to his wife, he especially wanted to return to the peninsula because of family graves and his personal connection to Crimea. In November 2023, he returned to Crimea again.

On February 2, 2024, Russian security forces detained Ananyev in Simferopol at an acquaintance's apartment. Together with him, Volodymyr Bodnar and Oksana Shevchenko were involved in the case. Russian security structures claimed that the three were allegedly preparing an assassination attempt on a representative of the occupying authorities of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov. Meanwhile, human rights defenders highlighted the circumstances of Ananyev's detention: officially, the Russian side reported his detention on February 5, although he was actually detained on the night of February 2 and spent several days without proper procedural status and access to defense.

Initially, Ananyev was charged under Part 3 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, or carrying of explosives. In November 2024, Article 205.1 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — aiding in the preparation of a terrorist act — was added to the case. After the case was transferred to the court, the indictment also referenced the provisions of Article 30 and Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

In February 2025, Ananyev's case was transferred to the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. In April, during a court session, he did not plead guilty and stated that the criminal case against him was fabricated. In June 2025, during interrogation, Ananyev reiterated that he was not involved in the actions imputed to him.

Other defendants in the case — Volodymyr Bodnar and Oksana Shevchenko — made pre-trial agreements with the investigation. Shevchenko received 10 years of imprisonment in May 2025, and Bodnar received 13 years in June 2025. The court decisions regarding them do not establish Ananyev's guilt, as his case is considered separately.

During his imprisonment, Volodymyr Ananyev's health significantly deteriorated. He has vision problems, underwent eye surgeries, is developing glaucoma, and has high blood pressure. He also moves with a cane due to leg problems and requires constant medical supervision. Human rights defenders have repeatedly reported inadequate detention conditions and lack of necessary medical care.

On August 10, 2026, on his 77th birthday, Ananyev remained in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 5 in Rostov-on-Don. The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea reported that he continues to await further consideration of his case.

As of September 6, 2026, Volodymyr Ananyev remains unlawfully imprisoned by Russia. No court verdict has been issued regarding him.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne Crimea, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Krym.Realii.

Photo: ZMINA.

Last updated: 06.09.2026.