Date of Birth: August 10, 1961

Abducted Since: March 12, 2022

Last Known Location: City of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Region

Political Sponsor: Miriam Dahlke (Alliance 90/the Greens)

Sergiy Tsyhipa is a Ukrainian journalist, writer, and political scientist from Nova Kakhovka, which was occupied in the early days of the Russian invasion. From then on, Sergiy became involved in distributing food and medicine to residents in need. Through his social media platforms, he reported on the current situation and pro-Ukrainian protests, making him a target of the Russian occupiers.

Imprisonment

On March 12, 2022, Sergiy was arrested by Russian forces at a checkpoint between Nova Kakhovka and Tavriyske (a village in Kherson Region). He was abducted and taken to an unknown location due to his civic activism and journalistic work. Only in November 2022 did Russian authorities confirm that Sergiy Tsyhipa was being held. He is accused of alleged espionage under Article 276 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code. After a long period in Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 2 in Simferopol, Sergiy was sentenced on October 6, 2023, to 13 years in a high-security prison by the “Supreme Court” of Crimea under Judge Victor Sklyarov.

On April 8, 2024, Sergiy’s wife was informed that he had been transferred from Simferopol to a Russian penal colony. The most recent information confirms that Sergiy is now in Penal Colony No. 3 in the city of Skopin, Ryazan Region, Russian Federation.

In the presence of diplomatic representatives (from Canada and three European countries), the Supreme Court of Russia rejected an appeal by Sergiy Tsyhipa on March 31, 2025, thereby upholding the arbitrary 13-year prison sentence.

As of April 2025, Sergiy has been transferred to Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 4 in Moscow.

Health Condition

Sergiy suffers from heart failure and prostatitis. In a propaganda video released in April 2022, Sergiy can be seen with clear signs of physical torture, which has further worsened his health. He suffers from a number of other chronic illnesses during his captivity. He continues to be subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

Status: As of April 2025

Letter to the Russian Ambassador

Subject: Request for the immediate release of Ukrainian civilian Sergiy Tsyhipa

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudswoman Moskalkova,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of Ukrainian journalist Sergiy Tsyhipa (born 10.08.1961), who was innocently abducted and arrested on 12 March 2022 in the town of Nova Kakhovka (Kherson region).

Sergiy was arrested on 12 March 2022 at a checkpoint between Nova Kakhovka and Tavriyske (village in the Kherson region). The Russian military arrested Sergiy and took him to an unknown location. The so-called ‘Supreme Court’ of Crimea sentenced him to 13 years in a maximum security colony and accused him of espionage under Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Sergiy has not admitted his guilt. According to the latest information, Sergiy was transferred to penal colony No. 3 in the city of Skopin, Ryazan region (Russian Federation).

I find the reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Russian detention centers and remand prisons particularly disturbing. Sergiy Tsyhipa is an innocent civilian detained without any legitimate legal basis. The rights and freedoms of the persons concerned must be fully respected and protected.

I appeal to you to advocate for the lawful and humane treatment of all civilian prisoners in Russia, especially the abducted Ukrainians. Please allow him to contact his family and provide him with legal representation.

Yours sincerely,

Letter to the Ukrainian Authorities

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudsman Lubinets,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of Ukrainian journalist Sergiy Tsyhipa (born 10.08.1961), who was innocently abducted and arrested on 12 March 2022 in the town of Nova Kakhovka (Kherson region).

Sergiy was arrested on 12 March 2022 at a checkpoint between Nova Kakhovka and Tavriyske (village in the Kherson region). The Russian military arrested Sergiy and took him to an unknown location. The so-called ‘Supreme Court’ of Crimea sentenced him to 13 years in a maximum security colony and accused him of espionage under Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Sergiy has not admitted his guilt. According to the latest information, Sergiy was transferred to penal colony No. 3 in the city of Skopin, Ryazan region (Russian Federation).

I received the information about the prisoner from the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), an organization that campaigns for Ukrainian civilian prisoners through public relations work, appeals and sponsorships. The organization is in close contact with family members of the deportees and endeavors to draw attention to the situation of the deported Ukrainians and the torture to which they are subjected in Russian captivity.

I have made an appeal to the Russian authorities, drawing attention to the situation of Sergiy Tsyhipa and calling for his release.

Thank you for your tireless work to protect the Ukrainian people and your commitment to the abducted civilians.

Yours sincerely,

Addresses

Ombudswoman of the Russian Federation
Tatyana H. Moskalkova
Smolenskij, d. 19, str. 2
119121 Moscow
Russia

Ombudsman (Human Rights Commissioner) of Ukraine
Dmytro Lubinets
Human Rights Commissioner in the Ukrainian Parliament
Vulica Instytutska, 21/8
01008 Kyiv
Ukraine
Email: hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua

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