Ukrainian journalist Oleh Baturyn was abducted on March 12 by Russian military forces at Kakhovka bus station in Kherson region. During his captivity, Baturyn was reportedly beaten and threatened with death by his captors. He said he was also held without proper access to food and water. He was released on March 20. Baturyn works as a journalist for the Novy Den newspaper. Ukrainian law enforcement officers launched a criminal investigation into the alleged abduction of Baturyn by the Russian troops. Criminal proceedings were instituted on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

UPDATE: On 27 March 2024, a court in Odesa sentenced the Russian-appointed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Volodymyr Leontiev, as well as an aide to head of the Russia-controlled Donetsk People’s Republic, Valentyn Motuzenko, to 12 years of prison in absentia each, on charges of crimes against civilians during a military invasion, violations of laws and customs of war, and other violations of international law. They were sentenced for a series of incidents involving civilians during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including the abduction and torture of Oleh Baturyn.