Date of Birth: October 5, 1979

Abducted Since: March 26, 2022

Last Known Location: City of Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Region

Political Sponsor: Detlef Seif (CDU, Member of the German Bundestag)

Yevhen Humeniuk is from Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region and is a mechanical engineer by profession. Before his captivity in Russia, Yevhen was a businessman and owned a company that manufactured and processed metal products.

Abduction

On 26 March 2022, Yevhen was arrested by the Russian military as he was on his way to visit his parents. Since then, his family has had no personal contact with him. Since his abduction, he has been held in various prisons in Russia. According to the latest information, Yevhen is being held in penal colony No. 10 in the village of Udarny (Subovo-Poliansky district, Republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation). According to the prison rules, prisoners in this colony have to stand for 18 hours a day. They are woken up at night and have to get up twice more. People are kept in isolation and are strictly forbidden to communicate with each other. There are video surveillance cameras in the cells and the guards strictly ensure that the prisoners remain silent. Due to the complete isolation and the lack of information about their families and the course of the war, they feel constantly threatened and are severely beaten at the slightest offence. The psychological torture to which the Ukrainian civilian prisoners are subjected through constant surveillance is enormous. According to his wife, Yevhen has no hope of being released from captivity.

Health Condition

Yevhen already suffered from a number of chronic pre-existing conditions before his abduction. Due to high cholesterol, he has to take cholesterol-lowering medication every day, otherwise he could suffer a heart attack. Yevhen has a stomach ulcer, four herniated discs in his cervical spine and four in his lumbar spine.

Since then, his health has deteriorated rapidly due to the poor diet, lack of treatment and constant torture and Yevhen has lost 40kg – he weighs about 50kg at a height of 182cm. When he asks for medical help, he is beaten until he loses consciousness. Due to the constant standing, Yevhen has developed back problems and varicose veins, and the pain prevents him from sleeping. His wife reports that Yevhen’s legs are rotting, which in the worst case could lead to the amputation of his lower limbs.

Status: As of May 2025

Letter to the Russian Ambassador

Subject: Request for the immediate release of Ukrainian civilian Yevhen Humeniuk

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudswoman Moskalkova,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilian Yevhen Humeniuk (born October 5, 1979), who was innocently abducted and arrested on March 26, 2022, in the town of Tokmak (Zaporizhia Region).

On March 26, 2022, Yevhen was detained by the Russian military while on his way to visit his parents. Since then, his family has not received a single letter from him. According to the latest information, Yevhen is being held 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. Yevhen Humeniuk 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 Sincerely,

Letter to the Ukrainian Authorities

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudsman Lubinets,

I am writing to inform you about the abduction of Ukrainian civilian Yevhen Humeniuk (born October 5, 1979) by the Russian military, who was innocently captured on March 26, 2022, in the town of Tokmak (Zaporizhia Region). Please note his fate in the register of missing persons under special circumstances.

On March 26, 2022, Yevhen was detained by the Russian military while on his way to visit his parents. Since then, his family has not received a single letter from him. According to the latest information, Yevhen is being held 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 Yevhen Humeniuk’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 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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