A journalist committed to power and the fight for justice has returned home: Vladyslav Yesypenko freed from Russian captivity on the occupied Crimean peninsula
After more than four years of unjust imprisonment, which calls into question all norms of international law and freedom of speech, Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko has finally gained a chance at freedom. On June 20 this year, he left the prison walls of Russia and rapidly moved toward freedom, returning from occupied Crimea, where he had been detained since 2021. His release is not just the return of an individual but a vivid example of the fight for truth and freedom of speech under increasingly difficult conditions, intensified by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and repression policies. Sources, including the Ukrainian service project Radio Svoboda's “Crimea.Realii,” confirm this important news. Radio Svoboda, providing information about this episode, expressed gratitude to the governments of the USA and Ukraine for their consistent and persistent support in bringing Vladyslav home. The organization’s head, Steven Cpus, emphasized in his comments that Yesypenko endured physical and psychological torture during his detention, and noted that his freedom resulted from long-term international cooperation and global efforts. “Over four years, Vladyslav endured pressure and abuse from Russian security forces, who arbitrarily punished him for fabricated charges,” stated Cpus in his statement. “Radio Svoboda sincerely thanks the governments of the USA and Ukraine for their active support and work to prevent further mistreatment of our colleague. We also sincerely thank the global community of press freedom defenders for their tireless assistance and advocacy, which helped save his life and facilitated his return to his country.” The story of this tragic but liberating event begins on March 10, 2021. On that day, Vladyslav Yesypenko disappeared from news radar reports: suddenly ceasing contact with loved ones. It later became known that he had been detained by Russian special services—the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia. He was accused of "crimes," including alleged ties to Ukrainian security agencies and storing and transporting ammunition in Crimean realities. These were completely fabricated charges aimed at distorting his activities and discrediting him as a Ukrainian journalist. After his detention, Yesypenko was subjected to horrific torture methods, including electrocution—a classic example of forced testimony extraction under such conditions. His physical and psychological abuse remained secret until later, when his case gained broad resonance in international and Ukrainian media. On February 16, 2022, Vladyslav was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony and fined 110,000 rubles. Russian investigators and courts requested a harsher sentence—up to 11 years of imprisonment. However, through diplomatic pressure and legal defense, Yesypenko’s legal team successfully secured a reduced sentence—he was ultimately sentenced to 5 years, a mitigated punishment that also helped lessen potential financial burdens for his future. As a result of this years-long struggle against the ruthless Russian system, combined with diplomatic and international efforts, Vladyslav Yesypenko finally received the chance to return to Ukraine. This became possible thanks to the perseverance of Ukrainian diplomats, human rights activists, and the global community, which could not turn away from the just voice of a journalist fighting for freedom of speech and independent information. Now, free at last, Vladyslav Yesypenko calls on everyone not to forget the voices of those who, through political repression and a war-waged regime, are deprived of their rights and freedoms. His story is a reminder that the fight for justice, free speech, and human values never truly ends, even in the darkest times. Vladyslav Yesypenko’s release has become not only a symbol of hope for Ukrainian journalists but also a call to the world to stay attentive and supportive of those fighting for the truth under the most difficult conditions. Though he has returned home, his account of torture and suffering will remain in the hearts of many as a symbol of unwavering resistance for freedom, which we value explicitly and urgently.