OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE ON THE UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT OF UKRAINIAN VOLUNTEER MARHARYTA KHARENKO BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES

Marharyta Kharenko is a volunteer of the Ukrainian Volunteer Service from Melitopol, who found herself living under temporary occupation at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On May 16, 2023, the ZMINA media outlet reported that on January 9, 2023, Russians kidnapped a resident of Melitopol, Marharyta Kharenko, from her home. At first, the woman was detained in the Melitopol Penitentiary Facility No. 144, then transferred to a detention center in the village of Yakymivka. Subsequently, a criminal case was initiated against the woman under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “extremism and terrorism”. On March 30, 2023, the Russians held a trial in Marharyta’s case, but due to a lack of evidence, they failed to bring any charges against her. Marharyta continued to be held in detention.

On April 4, 2024, the press service of the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don reported on Marharyta’s trial and sentence to 20 years in prison.

According to the prosecution, in 2022, Marharyta allegedly “collaborated with the special services of Ukraine and joined a terrorist group.” The court also announced that Marharyta was allegedly involved in the explosion of a car carrying a Russian occupier on December 23, 2023. These accusations are false.

Marharyta Kharenko was kidnapped and unlawfully convicted for her pro-Ukrainian position and volunteer activities in the temporarily occupied Melitopol with no possibility of proper legal defense. We can only imagine how trials of Ukrainian citizens in Russia are conducted. This is a practice devoid of justice and humanity. This is another open crime against the citizens of Ukraine, our freedom, language, and the right to active citizenship.

The Ukrainian Volunteer Service condemns the actions of the Russian Southern District Military Court and emphasizes that the accusations against Marharyta are unjustified and have no public evidence. We are calling for spreading the statement and raising awareness about the brutal crime against Marharyta Kharenko.