Detention: On March 27, 2022, Russian military abducted Mykola Petrovskyi in central occupied Kherson. Before disappearing, he went to a meeting and did not return. It was later revealed that he was detained by Russian military. For about six months, Mykola was held in a basement by FSB officers. During the Russian forces' retreat from Kherson, he was taken out of the city and transported to occupied Crimea. In September 2022, his parents learned that he was in the Simferopol pre-trial detention centre.

Sentence: On September 27, 2023, the illegal 'Supreme Court' of occupied Crimea found Mykola Petrovskyi guilty of alleged espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in a strict regime colony. The trial was held in a closed session under the pretext of containing information deemed a state secret by the Russian side. On February 13, 2024, the illegal appellate 'court' in occupied Crimea upheld the sentence.

Mykola Petrovskyi is a Ukrainian citizen, born in Kherson in 1993. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, as of 2025, he was 31 years old.

Before the full-scale invasion, Mykola lived in Kherson. He obtained a legal education and was involved in volunteer activities. After the Russian occupation of Kherson began, he chose to stay in the city despite his health condition and the danger.

Mykola has a third-degree disability. Due to a traffic accident, he lost part of his left foot and used a prosthesis. In 2012, he suffered a severe head injury and a jaw fracture. Problems with prosthetics led to spinal curvature and intervertebral disc protrusions. He also had a stomach ulcer, and due to damage to the left side of his face, he experienced vision and hearing issues.

Despite his disability, after the occupation of Kherson, Mykola continued his volunteer work. He delivered bread to low-income residents, helped people leave the occupied city, and evacuated Kherson residents. He assisted many in leaving occupied Kherson, but chose to remain in the city himself.

On March 27, 2022, Mykola was abducted in central Kherson. After the abduction, he was held in a basement for approximately six months, where, according to his mother's testimony, he was subjected to torture and starvation. Subsequently, Russian military transported him to Crimea. In September 2022, his family received confirmation that Mykola was in Simferopol pre-trial detention centre No. 2. The Russian side accused him of espionage under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code.

During his time in the Simferopol pre-trial detention centre, his health deteriorated. Wounds developed on his leg due to prosthesis issues, and inadequate nutrition exacerbated his stomach ulcer. According to human rights defenders, necessary medications were not always provided at the facility.

On September 27, 2023, the occupying 'Supreme Court' of Crimea sentenced Mykola to 16 years in a strict regime colony. The case was heard in a closed session. Ukrainian human rights defenders consider his persecution and sentence unlawful.

Following the sentence, Mykola remained in the Russian prison system. On May 21, 2024, he was transferred to a correctional colony in the Saratov region of Russia.

In the colony, Mykola's health continued to worsen. His leg atrophied due to a damaged prosthesis, reducing his ability to walk. He also developed spinal issues, constant pain, a cyst, and stomach diseases. In 2025–2026, he was diagnosed with staphylococcus aureus, boils, and abscesses; according to his father, the infection is progressing, and the wounds are not healing.

At the end of 2025, the colony administration increased pressure on Mykola. Due to his inability to stand for long periods with a damaged prosthesis, his actions were deemed a regime violation. He spent 20 days in a pre-trial detention centre, after which he was transferred to a separate facility on the colony's premises.

As of September 9, 2026, Mykola Petrovskyi continues to serve an unlawful 16-year sentence in a correctional colony in the Saratov region of Russia. His health remains critical and requires proper medical attention.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, Suspilne Crimea, Suspilne Kherson, Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Photo: ZMINA.

Date of update: 09.09.2026