Ukrainian journalists Dmytro Khyliuk and Vladyslav Yesypenko, recently released from prolonged Russian captivity, have testified during high-level meetings with the leadership of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) about grave violations of international law and the inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners. They described how civilians are unlawfully registered as prisoners of war, the Geneva Convention is systematically ignored, and the International Committee of the Red Cross fails to fulfil its mission of monitoring detention conditions. The journalists spoke of torture, hunger, cold, humiliation, denial of medical assistance, and constant abuse – methods Russia routinely applies in its treatment of Ukrainian captives.

Their testimony at the opening of the exhibition “PRESS IN DETENTION – #FreeUkrainianJournalists”, held in Strasbourg during the PACE autumn session on 1 October, shed light on the torture and inhumane treatment inflicted on Ukrainian journalists in Russian captivity. Vladyslav Yesypenko’s broken glasses, which he was forced to wear throughout his entire imprisonment while his requests for new ones were mocked by guards, were put on display as a stark symbol of this cruelty. Dmytro Khyluk recounted that hunger drove prisoners to eat toothpaste, and that soap began to seem like ice cream. The exhibition, organised in co-operation with the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) and the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy of the Parliament of Ukraine, presents the names, photographs, and stories of 26 Ukrainian journalists currently held in Russian captivity, based on IMI’s verified list. A special stand is dedicated to Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist tortured to death in Russian custody.

The Ukrainian delegation to PACE, combining professional expertise, civil society engagement, and powerful personal testimony, played a central role in the event. It included Kateryna Diachuk and Lesia Lutsiuk from IMI, former political prisoners Vladyslav Yesypenko and Dmytro Khyliuk, and Kateryna Yesypenko, analyst at the Crimean human rights group. Their presence ensured both the professional delivery of the exhibition and strong advocacy with parliamentarians and international stakeholders. At the opening, they also called on the Council of Europe to intensify pressure on the International Committee of the Red Cross to fulfil its humanitarian mandate and to support international efforts to secure the release of all Ukrainian captives – including children.

The Assembly also adopted the resolution “Journalists matter: the need to step up efforts to liberate Ukrainian journalists held in captivity by the Russian Federation.” It highlights the effectiveness of international pressure in securing the recent release of Dmytro Khyliuk, Vladyslav Yesypenko, and Mark Kaliush, calls for targeted sanctions against Russian officials responsible for unlawful detentions, support for a special tribunal on the crime of aggression, and reinforced co-operation with the International Criminal Court. It also recalls Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukrainian media newsrooms and inaugurates an annual ceremony in memory of Viktoriia Roshchyna under the name “Victory for Viktoria.”

Just two days earlier, on 29 September 2025, Ukrainian journalist and human rights defender Maksym Butkevych was awarded the thirteenth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, honouring his outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights.

The visit was organised and supported by the Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – Phase II.” The project advises Ukrainian authorities on legislative and regulatory measures related to the freedom of media and safety of journalists, including anti-SLAPP legislation and the national implementation of the Council of Europe “Journalists Matter” campaign.

The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – II Phase” (SFEM-UA) is implemented by the Council of Europe  Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.