Ukrainian abducted in Russian-occupied Crimea; Ukraine's ombudsman appeals to Moscow
Serhii Hrishchenkov was taken in Sevastopol overnight on May 7, and his whereabouts are currently unknown, said Lubinets, who received an appeal from the man's daughter.
Lubinets added that he had appealed to his Russian counterpart, Tatyana Moskalkova, regarding the case. At the time of publication, the Russian ombudsman's office had not issued a public reaction.
The Ukrainian ombudsman stressed that Hrishchenkov's disappearance is "not an isolated case," with other people being kidnapped by alleged FSB officers.
"This case of a Ukrainian citizen once again demonstrates the inability of the occupation authorities to ensure the implementation of international civil and political rights for residents of occupied Crimea," Lubinets said in a statement on Telegram.
"Cynicism and human rights violations have become commonplace for thousands of Ukrainian citizens!"
Russian occupation of Crimea, ongoing since 2014, has been accompanied by a harsh crackdown on civil and political rights and persecution of Ukrainian activists, Crimean Tatars, and others.
Read also: How much does a Russian drone attack on Ukraine cost? The question is more complicated than it sounds
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
29 minutes ago
- Politico
Lindsey Graham's strategy for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine: Peace by pocketbook
Trump in early August hiked tariffs on India to 50 percent due to the country's purchasing of Russian oil. Graham claimed that it was those sanctions that drove Putin to acquiesce to the Alaska visit. And going after China — another major consumer of Russian oil — could prove even more pivotal, he said. 'If we take it to the next level and tell China you're next, then I think we can have an end to this war,' Graham said. 'The second most important person on the planet to end this war is President Xi in China. If he went to Putin and said it's time to end this war, I can't help you anymore because you're putting my country at threat, this war would end.' But Trump was far from threatening in his meeting with Putin last week. He rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader and the two rode together in the presidential limousine. The meeting ended without a ceasefire or even concrete plans for a trilateral talk involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But Graham was quick to attack those who suggested that meant the confab was a failure. Also on Sunday, special envoy Steve Witkoff said that Russia had consented to 'Article 5-like protections' for Ukraine at the conclusion of the war. 'To all these media analysts who say this was a bust, that's ridiculous,' he said. 'We have progress we didn't have before. We have momentum for peace. We'll see where it goes. So I'll leave it up to Trump.' Zelenskyy — and a selection of European leaders — will journey to Washington on Monday to touch base with Trump on what comes next. Graham insisted that Europe, too, must be willing to further sanction Russia in a bid to stop the fighting. 'To our European allies, up your game. Quit complaining about what we're not doing in America and do more yourself,' he said. 'Put tariffs on every country that buys Russian oil and gas cheaply to benefit Putin's war machine. Do what Trump's doing.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Ukraine won't give up land that Russia doesn't already occupy, Zelensky says after Putin's demand
Kyiv will not give up land that Moscow troops aren't occupying as part of any peace deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands. Speaking ahead of his meeting with President Trump on Monday, Zelensky told reporters in Brussels that while Kyiv would be open to 'land swaps' in exchange for peace, Putin's demands to cede the entirety of the Donetsk region — including parts under Ukrainian control — is off the table. 'We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now,' Zelensky said. 'The contact line is the best line for talking. Advertisement 4 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would not cede land to Russia that has been successfully defended by his troops as part of a peace deal. AFP via Getty Images 4 Ukrainian troops have been able to effectively halt Russia's advancements in the Donetsk region for more than three years. Getty Images 'Russia is still unsuccessful in the Donetsk region,' he added. 'Putin has been unable to take it for 12 years, and the Constitution of Ukraine makes it impossible to give up territory or trade land.' During his summit with Trump on Friday, Putin demanded that Ukraine withdraw all its forces from Donetsk and the neighboring Luhanks region, both of which lie along the eastern border, as one of the main conditions for ending the war. Advertisement While Russia currently controls a large swath of land across both regions, Ukraine has been able to keep Moscow's forces from claiming the entire regions for more than three years. Kyiv still holds the key cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, with hundreds of Moscow's troops killed or injured every week in the quagmire. 4 Vladimir Putin has made no public statement that Moscow would consider any concessions in the peace talks with Ukraine, with the Russian President demanding two entire Ukrainian regions to stop his invasion force. AP Advertisement Zelensky said Kyiv would not falter on these conditions, with European leaders backing the Ukrainian president and warning Trump that the country's border cannot be allowed to be altered through force. 'Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral Ukraine-United States-Russia,' Zelensky added. 'So far, Russia gives no sign that trilateral will happen, and if Russia refuses, then new sanctions must follow,' he added. 4 A Ukrainian soldier fires a howitzer at invading Russian forces in Donetsk on Saturday. Getty Images Advertisement As he prepares for this meeting with Trump on Monday, Zelensky said he will seek the full details of the 'security guarantees' that will be available for Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday that Putin agreed to allow the US and Europe to provide Ukraine with assurances that it will never again be invaded by Russia, similar to NATO's 'Article 5' agreement that allows member nations to defend each other if one is ever attacked. Putin has publicly denounced any deal that would give Ukraine NATO membership, with Trump also dismissing such proposals in the past. The Russian strongman has also remained silent on what concessions Moscow is willing to make in the peace talks, which leaves Zelensky with more questions than answers following Friday's summit in Alaska. 'We really want to get an answer to these questions in order to understand what 'security guarantees' are,' Zelensky said.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Pence urges Trump to take out the ‘hammer' on Russia: ‘Putin's not going to stop until he's stopped'
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday urged President Trump to bring the 'hammer' down on Vladimir Putin and push for additional sanctions against Russia. Pence commended Trump for seeking peace in Ukraine following the president's Alaska summit with the Russian strongman on Friday, but implored him to ramp up the pressure in order to cut a peace deal. 'I served alongside the president for four years. I know his style in dealing with these dictators. It's the velvet glove, but I think the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately,' Pence said on CNN's 'State of the Union.' '[Trump] ought to pick up the phone and ask Majority Leader John Thune to immediately pass the secondary sanctions bill that is supported by virtually everyone in the United States Senate,' he said. Pence emphasized that the Russian president is 'the bad guy' and should be treated as such during negotiations. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have, for several months, championed a sanctions bill against Russia, with over 80 senators backing it. Trump shrugged off the bill as unnecessary and instead gave Putin an ultimatum, demanding the Kremlin tyrant take steps toward peace by Aug. 8 or else face severe secondary sanctions and tariffs. 3 Former Vice President Mike Pence expressed concerns that Russian leader Vladimir Putin may be trying to buy time. CNN 3 President Trump became the first US president to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. AFP via Getty Images Following a meeting Putin had with special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin just days before that deadline, Trump decided to call off the economic penalties and hold the Friday summit with the Russian tyrant instead. Pence warned that Putin may be attempting to 'run out the clock' and delay sanctions that could batter his country's economy as long as possible. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has swatted off criticism that the Trump administration has slow-walked economic sanctions against Russia, arguing that such a move would hamstring peace talks. 'You're saying talks are over. For the foreseeable future, for the next year or year-and-a-half, there's no more talks, because there's no one else in the world that can talk to him (Putin),' Rubio told Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' about the implications of additional sanctions against Russia. 3 Mike Pence praised President Trump for pursuing peace between Russia and Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images Putin did not agree to a ceasefire during his summit with Trump, and the US president has since opted to pivot towards pursuing a full-fledged peace deal. Pence said he 'was not surprised' that the historic meeting didn't end in a ceasefire deal. 'There was an agreement by President Zelensky to a cease-fire back in February. Putin refused it. He's managed to delay the game,' the ex-VP said on CNN. 'All the while, his military has continued its brutal assault on civilian populations in Ukraine.' Trump, ahead of the summit, had told Fox News that he wouldn't be 'happy' if his Russian counterpart didn't agree to a ceasefire. Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday. A group of European leaders will join Zelensky during his trip to Washington, DC, though it is not clear if they will be present in the White House meeting. 'I'm also going to be praying that it's a productive time and a unifying time among all the leaders in the West and the president and President Zelensky,' Pence said.
