Political Prisoners

Bibik Tetyana

Detention: The exact date is not available in open sources. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, there is no information on sentencing in open sources. Tetyana Bibik remains in custody. Her name is included in the lists of Ukrainian citizens unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation for political reasons.

Bilousova Marina

Detention: On May 27, 2025, Russian security forces detained Marina Henrikhivna Bilousova, a resident of Prymorsk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, living in the temporarily occupied territory. According to the Russian investigation, in January 2024, she allegedly made a monetary transfer to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A criminal case was initiated against her under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('treason'). Human rights defenders emphasize that Russia unlawfully applies its criminal law to Ukrainian citizens residing in occupied territories, and the case is politically motivated. Sentence: In December 2025, an illegally established Russian court in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast found Marina Bilousova guilty of 'treason' and sentenced her to 12 years and 6 months in a general regime colony.

Bodnarashyk Serhii

Arrest: In October 2024, Russian FSB officers detained Serhii Borysovych Bodnarashyk, a resident of Sevastopol. According to the Russian investigation, from January to October 2023, he allegedly transmitted photographs and information about the locations of Russian military equipment and facilities in Sevastopol to Ukrainian intelligence services. A criminal case was initiated against him under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('treason'). Human rights advocates emphasize that the case is politically motivated, occurring under the conditions of Crimea's occupation, where Russian authorities frequently apply the 'treason' charge against Ukrainian citizens. Sentence: On August 22, 2025, the Russian-controlled Sevastopol City Court sentenced Serhii Bodnarashyk to 14 years in a high-security penal colony. In addition to the main sentence, the court imposed 1 year of restricted freedom following release and a fine of 200,000 Russian rubles. As of the latest reports, the sentence has not yet come into full effect due to an appeal.

Bondarashyk Serhii

Detention: In August 2025, the occupation 'law enforcement agencies' of Sevastopol detained 45-year-old local resident Serhii Bondarashyk. He was accused of 'state treason' for allegedly transmitting information and photographs of Russian military equipment locations to Ukrainian intelligence services. Sentence: On August 22, 2025, the occupation Sevastopol City Court sentenced Serhii Bondarashyk to 14 years in a high-security penal colony, 1 year of restricted freedom after release, and a fine of 200,000 Russian rubles. The sentence has not yet come into force, and an appeal is ongoing.

Bondarenko Viktor

Detention: On March 13, 2024, Russian security forces abducted Viktor Mykolayovych Bondarenko, a pastor of an evangelical church and a volunteer from Berdyansk. He was detained on the street while walking his dog. His family did not know his whereabouts for almost three weeks. It was later revealed that he was held in a Melitopol detention facility and later transferred to a pre-trial detention centre in occupied Donetsk. Russian forces accused Bondarenko of allegedly sabotaging a transformer substation, power lines, participating in a 'sabotage-reconnaissance group,' and collaborating with the Azov regiment. Family and human rights defenders claim all charges were fabricated, and 'confessions' were obtained under torture. In April 2022, he was previously abducted along with his son-in-law, held for 13 days, beaten, and tortured, but was released then. Sentence: On December 3, 2024, an illegal court in occupied Donetsk sentenced Viktor Bondarenko to 22 years in a high-security colony and a fine of 1 million Russian rubles. He is to serve the first three years in prison, with the remainder in a high-security colony. The occupation court also confiscated his car. On April 17, 2025, the appellate court upheld the sentence. Subsequently, Viktor was transferred through several Russian pre-trial detention centres and later moved to the notorious 'Vladimir Central' prison. Human rights defenders emphasize that his health significantly deteriorated during the transfer, and he is not receiving necessary medical care.

Bratzeva Tamara

Detention: On August 7, 2024, officers of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and other Russian security agencies searched Tamara Bratzeva's home and took her for questioning. A criminal case was initiated against her under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“organization of the activities of an extremist organization”), linked to her membership in the Jehovah's Witnesses religious community. After questioning, she was released on her own recognizance. Sentence: On October 17, 2025, the Rozdolne District Court of the occupation authorities found Tamara Bratzeva guilty and sentenced her to 6 years and 3 months of suspended imprisonment with a probation period. Human rights defenders consider the sentence politically motivated and part of the systematic persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in occupied Crimea.

Brazhnyk Oleksii

Detention: Russian occupiers abducted him on September 21, 2022, directly from his workplace, after which he was held at a police station in Enerhodar. He was subjected to torture and later transferred to the Melitopol pre-trial detention centre. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, no sentence has been issued. The Russian Federation has not reported transferring the case to court. Oleksii Brazhnyk is unlawfully held as a civilian hostage by Russia. Human rights organizations classify his detention as a violation of international humanitarian law.

Bryukhanov Andriy

Detention: The exact date is not available in open sources. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, information about the sentence is not available in open sources. Andriy Bryukhanov is one of the Ukrainian citizens prosecuted by the Russian Federation under Article 275 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code ('treason'). Human rights defenders view such cases as tools for politically motivated persecution of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories and in the Russian Federation.

Buryk Vitalii

Detention: On October 9, 2024, Russian security forces detained Vitalii Anatoliiovych Buryk in Kerch during a large-scale wave of searches in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was detained at his workplace—a boiler room—after which a search was conducted in his apartment where his minor daughter with a disability was present. On the same day, a criminal case was initiated against him under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code ('organization of the activities of an extremist organization'). Two days after his detention, the occupation court placed him under house arrest. Human rights defenders emphasize that the sole basis for his persecution was his peaceful religious activity, as Jehovah's Witnesses are legal in Ukraine, and the European Court of Human Rights has deemed the persecution of this community in Russia unlawful. ...

Buyukchan Hatidzhe

Detention: On May 6, 2025, Hatidzhe was abducted and held in an unknown location for over two months. On July 14, 2025, the FSB announced her detention on charges under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code (treason) and Article 205 (preparation of a terrorist act). Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Hatidzhe Buyukchan remains in custody. The Russian Federation accuses her of 'treason', 'preparation of a terrorist act', and crimes related to the illegal circulation of explosives. Human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated and report gross human rights violations.

Chavush Enver

Detention: On February 27, 2025, Russian security forces detained Enver Chavush during a wave of criminal prosecutions against Crimean civilians on charges of 'state treason'. Following his detention, he was taken into custody by a court controlled by Russia. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no final sentence. According to human rights organizations, Enver Chavush is charged under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('state treason'). Ukrainian human rights advocates consider the case politically motivated and link it to the systematic persecution of Ukrainian citizens on the occupied peninsula.

Chebotar Mykyta

Detention: In 2023, following the occupation of part of Kherson region, Russian security forces detained Mykyta Chebotar, who was involved in Ukrainian territorial defense activities. He was subsequently unlawfully transferred to occupied Crimea, where a criminal case was initiated against him. Sentence: At the end of 2023, the Russian-controlled Kyiv District 'court' of Simferopol sentenced Mykyta Chebotar to 7 years in prison, finding him guilty of 'organizing an illegal armed formation' due to his command of a Ukrainian territorial defense unit. Later, the Russian prosecutor's office appealed the sentence, deeming it 'too lenient,' and the case was sent for retrial to the occupation court in Kherson region. As of 22.07.2026, there is no information about a final verdict in open independent sources.