Detention: On October 10, 2019, Russian security forces detained Oleh Prikhodko in occupied Crimea. The day before, on October 9, he was forcibly placed in a vehicle and held overnight at an FSB building. The following day, security forces searched his home and garage, where they allegedly found explosives according to Russian investigators. Prikhodko's wife, Lyubov Prikhodko, was also detained but later released. Prikhodko denied the charges, claiming the explosives were planted by FSB officers. Ukrainian human rights defenders pointed out numerous inconsistencies in the case and linked the persecution to the activist's openly pro-Ukrainian stance.

Sentence: On March 3, 2021, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Oleh Prikhodko to 5 years in a high-security penal colony, with the first year in prison, and imposed a fine of 110,000 rubles. He was accused of preparing a terrorist act, illegal manufacture of explosives, and preparing to set fire to the Russian Federation's consulate general in Lviv.

In November 2023, a Russian court added another 4 years and 6 months to his sentence for charges of 'justifying terrorism' and 'public calls to wage an aggressive war.' The total sentence amounted to 9 years and 6 months.

As of September 9, 2026, a fourth criminal case is being considered against Prikhodko. He is accused of 'facilitating terrorist activities' and 'inciting state treason.' No verdict has been issued for this new case as of 09.09.2026.

Oleh Prikhodko was born on November 21, 1958, in the city of Saky, Crimea. By profession, he is a welder, primarily working with metal welding and blacksmithing. He lived most of his life in Crimea, spending the last years before his arrest in the village of Orikhove, Saky district.

In December 2013, Prikhodko traveled to Kyiv to participate in the Euromaidan events, including protests near the Kyiv City Council. Before the occupation of Crimea, he led the local branch of the Ukrainian party 'Svoboda' in the Saky district. After the peninsula's occupation in 2014, the party's activities in Crimea were banned by the Russian occupation authorities.

After the occupation, Prikhodko openly opposed the Russian occupation of Crimea, did not hide his pro-Ukrainian position, and refused a Russian passport. A Ukrainian flag was displayed on his house. In June 2016, he was detained for three days due to Ukrainian license plates on his car. Since then, he was regularly summoned for questioning by the FSB and faced pressure due to his political views.

On February 8, 2019, a search was conducted at Prikhodko's house in the village of Orikhove. A few months later, in September, he and his wife were summoned for questioning by the FSB in Simferopol. In October, he was detained, and a criminal case was opened against the activist.

During the trial, Prikhodko continued to demonstrate his pro-Ukrainian stance. He brought handmade posters to the hearings, including one with the inscription 'On my knees only before God! Glory to Ukraine!'. In May 2021, the military appellate court upheld his sentence.

In Russian imprisonment, Prikhodko's health significantly deteriorated. He suffers from chronic gastrointestinal and genitourinary diseases, serious hearing and vision impairments. Human rights defenders reported the lack of necessary medication and medical care. In 2022, the family reported torture in the 'Vladimir Central': according to his daughter, he was subjected to electric shocks, doused with water, and kept with bent arms in handcuffs.

In 2023, new criminal cases were opened against Prikhodko. In November of that year, 4.5 years were added to his sentence. In 2024, he was held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Krasnodar, after which he was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 1 in the Krasnodar Territory. In 2025, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center reported that Prikhodko had been there for over a year.

In April 2026, it became known about the fourth criminal prosecution. According to the FSB, while in the correctional colony, Prikhodko allegedly encouraged other prisoners to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with the subsequent surrender to Ukrainian military forces. The case was transferred to the Southern District Military Court. The charges carry a penalty of up to life imprisonment.

As of September 9, 2026, Oleh Prikhodko has been in Russian imprisonment for seven years. He continues to serve his sentence and is also a defendant in a new criminal case. Human rights organizations and the Ukrainian authorities consider his persecution politically motivated and related to his open pro-Ukrainian stance.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Radio Liberty.

Photo: CrimeaSOS.

Last updated: 09.09.2026.