Date of Birth: December 27, 1985

Abducted Since: April 12, 2022

Last Known Location: Village of Pryshchyb, Mykolaiv Region

Political Sponsor: Max Schad (CDU, Member of the State Parliament of Hesse)

Vitaly is an agronomist by profession. Before his Russian imprisonment, he worked as a school bus driver at the Lubomyrivsky Lyceum.

Abduction

At the beginning of the war, Vitaly was hired as a bus driver to transport mobilized Ukrainian soldiers to their deployment locations. It was later revealed that he and other bus drivers had to transport the soldiers to Mariupol, although this was not part of the original plan. On April 12, 2022, Vitaly and other bus drivers, including Volodymyr Androsovich, were captured by Russian military forces together with the 36th Separate Brigade of Ukrainian Marines.

According to the latest information, Vitaly was being held in Penal Colony No. 10 in the village of Udarny (Zubovo-Polyansky District, Republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation).

Health Condition

Before his captivity, Vitaly suffered from high blood pressure and vasomotor rhinitis. His current health condition is unknown.

Status: As of May 2024

Letter to the Russian Ambassador

Subject: Request for the immediate release of Ukrainian civilian Vitaly Kuznetsov

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudswoman Moskalkova,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilian Vitaly Kuznetsov (born December 27, 1985), who was innocently abducted and arrested on April 12, 2022, in the city of Mariupol (Donetsk Region).

Before his detention, Vitaly worked as a school bus driver at the Lubomyrivsky Lyceum (Mykolaiv Region). At the beginning of the war, Vitaly was hired as a bus driver to transport mobilized Ukrainian soldiers to their deployment locations. On April 12, 2022, Vitaly and other bus drivers, along with the 36th Separate Brigade of Ukrainian Marines, were captured by Russian military personnel in Mariupol. According to the latest information, Vitaly was in penal colony No. 10 in the village of Udarny (Zubovo-Poliansky District, Republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation).

I find the reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Russian penal camps and pre-trial detention centers particularly disturbing. Vitaly Kuznetsov is an innocent civilian being held without any legitimate legal basis. The rights and freedoms of the individuals concerned must be fully respected and protected.

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

Yours Respectfully,

Letter to the Ukrainian Authorities

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudsman Lubinets,

I am writing to inform you about the abduction of Ukrainian civilian Vitaly Kuznetsov (born December 27, 1985) by the Russian military, who was innocently captured on April 12, 2022, in the city of Mariupol (Donetsk Region).

Before his capture, Vitaly worked as a school bus driver at the Lubomyrivsky Lyceum (Mykolaiv Region). At the beginning of the war, Vitaly was hired as a bus driver to transport mobilized Ukrainian soldiers to their deployment locations. On April 12, 2022, Vitaly and other bus drivers, along with the 36th Separate Brigade of Ukrainian Marines, were captured by Russian military personnel in Mariupol. According to the latest information, Vitaly was currently in penal colony No. 10 in the village of Udarny (Zubovo-Poliansky District, Republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation).

I received the information about the prisoner from the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM), which works on behalf of Ukrainian civilian prisoners through public relations, appeals, and sponsorships. The organization is in close contact with the families of the deported Ukrainians and strives to raise awareness of the situation of deported Ukrainians and the torture they are subjected to in Russian captivity.

I addressed an appeal to the Russian authorities, drawing attention to Vitaly Kuznetsov’s situation and demanding his release.

I thank you for your tireless work to protect the Ukrainian population and your commitment to the deported civilians.

Yours Respectfully,

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