Mykhailo Sorokin (Russian: Михаил Сорокин)
Date of birth: April 10, 1955
Abducted since: June 2, 2023
Last known location: City of Dnipro
Unlawful sentence: 6 years in prison

Mykhailo is a pensioner. Before his retirement, he worked for many years as a bus driver.

Abduction

On May 28, 2023, Mykhailo left Ukraine for the occupied city of Luhansk, where he had lived before the war. His journey stemmed from the understandable desire to check on his apartment—he wanted to ensure that his home was undamaged and had not been looted during his absence. Since a direct route from Ukraine to Luhansk is impossible, his journey took him through Poland, Belarus, and the Russian Federation. This arduous trip reflects the complex realities of the region.

On June 2, 2023, Mykhailo was arrested by FSB officers at the Izvaryne checkpoint while crossing the border between the Russian Federation and the Luhansk region.

In the following days, the homes of Mykhailo and his relatives were searched. FSB officers reported that they allegedly found an improvised explosive device during a search of Mykhailo’s dacha.

On June 7, 2024, Mykhailo was sentenced to six years in prison. He is currently being held in Penal Colony No. 5 in the city of Sverdlovsk (Luhansk region).

Health Status

Mykhailo suffers from grade 2 hypertension, coronary artery disease, and impaired vision due to cataracts. It is known that he lost consciousness several times during his time in pretrial detention due to high blood pressure. He is also currently known to have a hernia and anaemia.

Status: October 2024