Date of Birth: January 10, 1952

Abducted Since: March 15, 2022

Last Known Location: Village of Blystavytzia, Bucha District, Kyiv Region

Political Sponsor: Martina Feldmayer (Alliance 90/the Greens, Member of the State Parliament of Hesse)

Vasiliy is a pensioner and lived in the village of Blystawytzja. He was 70 years old at the time of his arrest by the Russian military. His family and relatives describe Vasiliy as a kind and decent person. His health deteriorated with every day he spent in captivity.

Abduction

Vasiliy was arrested in his home village on 15 March 2022. According to eyewitnesses, he was arrested as he passed a house where Russian military personnel were staying. He was walking to get petrol for a generator. According to Vasiliy’s relatives, he was initially held in a pre-trial detention center in the city of Novosybkov (Bryansk region, Russia). From June 2023, Vasiliy was held in penal colony No. 1 or No. 6 in the Tula region (Russia). Vasiliy’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown.

Health Condition

Before his imprisonment, Vasiliy underwent oncological surgery and suffered from prostate cancer. Today, he has no opportunity to undergo regular check-ups for a recurrence of the cancer. He also suffered from chronic bronchitis and back problems.

Status: As of May 2025

Letter to the Russian Ambassador

Subject: Request for the immediate release of Ukrainian civilian Vasiliy Dmytryk

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudswoman Moskalkova,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of pensioner Vasiliy Dmytryk (born 10.01.1952), who was innocently abducted and arrested on March 15, 2022 in Blystavytsya (Kyiv region).

Vasiliy was arrested in his home village on March 15, 2022. According to eyewitnesses, he was arrested as he passed a house where Russian military personnel were staying. Vasiliy’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown. He was 70 years old at the time of his arrest. Before his arrest, Vasiliy underwent oncological surgery. He also suffered from chronic bronchitis and back problems. As of June 2023, Vasiliy was in penal colony no. 1 or no. 6 in the Tula region (Russia).

I find the reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Russian penal camps and pre-trial detention centers particularly disturbing. Vasiliy Dmytryk 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 work for the lawful and humane treatment of all civilian prisoners in Russia, especially the abducted Ukrainians. Please allow him contact with his family and provide him with legal counsel.

Yours sincerely,

Letter to the Ukrainian Authorities

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudsman Lubinets,

I am writing to draw your attention to the abduction of pensioner Vasiliy Dmytryk (born 10.01.1952) by the Russian military, who was innocently captured in Blystavytsya (Kyiv region) on March 15, 2022. Please note his fate in the register of missing persons in special circumstances.

Vasiliy was arrested on March 15, 2022 in his home village. According to eyewitnesses, he was arrested while passing a house where Russian military personnel were staying. Vasiliy’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown. He was 70 years old at the time of his arrest. Before his arrest, Vasiliy underwent oncological surgery. He also suffered from chronic bronchitis and back problems. As of June 2023, Vasiliy was in penal colony no. 1 or no. 6 in the Tula region (Russia).

I received the information about the prisoner from the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), which is involved in public relations work, appeals and sponsorships for Ukrainian civilian prisoners. The organization is in close contact with family members of the deportees and tries 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 Vasiliy Dmytryk 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

Ambassadors and Addresses of Embassies