Andrii Holubiev (Russian: Андрей Голубьев)
Date of birth: November 18, 1978
Abducted since: April 6, 2022
Last known location: City of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Region

Andrii is a graduate of Melitopol Pedagogical University. Before his capture by the Russians, he worked as a children’s kung fu instructor and headed the Zaporizhzhia Regional Kung Fu Association. He is married and has a minor son.

Abduction

On April 6, 2022, Andrii was abducted from his apartment by the Russian military. The arrest was carried out by five soldiers, two of whom were FSB agents. They were armed, wore balaclavas and bulletproof vests, and forced their way into Andrii’s apartment. They immediately began searching the apartment where Andrii’s family was staying. The Russian military acted in a hostile manner and threatened to shoot him in the legs.

Andrii was abducted and held for two weeks in the cold basement of a locked building in Melitopol, handcuffed to a pipe. He was starved, tortured with electric shocks, constantly beaten, and given injections. He also had numerous cuts on his hands.

On April 19, 2022, Andrii was transferred to Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol, Crimea, where he was again subjected to severe torture. He was severely beaten, tortured with electric shocks, and forced to confess to fabricated crimes he had not committed. He and his family were also threatened with physical violence.

In April 2023, he was transferred to Detention Centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, where he remains. The conditions of his detention are appalling. His cell is located in a damp basement. The plumbing is broken, and the air reeks of mould and faeces. The conditions are completely unsanitary: rats, cockroaches, and fleas infest the cell. Thirty people are crammed into a cell designed for 12, and there are not enough beds.

On June 14, 2023, the military court of the southern district of Rostov-on-Don held a trial for five residents of Melitopol, including Andrii Holubiev. The men were accused of terrorism, attempted murder, and membership in a terrorist organisation.

Currently, there is no official confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross or the Russian Federation that Andrii Holubiev is being held in Russian custody.

Currently, there is no official confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross or the Russian Federation that Andrii Holubiev is in Russian custody.

Health Status

Before his capture, Andrii was diagnosed with grade 1–2 osteoarthritis of the left hip. He also has problems with his lumbar spine. Andrii urgently needs treatment. Due to torture and mistreatment, Andrii’s health is deteriorating daily.

Status: December 2024