78-year-old writer and journalist Yevhenii Bal died on April 2, 2022, after three days of severe beating by Russian forces.
On March 18, 2022, Bal was taken captive near Manhush, close to Mariupol, and was then tortured. He passed away from the injuries, according to local media. Yevenii Bal was a well-known author, writer, and member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and the National Union of Writers of Ukraine.
According to local news portal 0629.com.ua, Russian forces broke into Bal’s house in Melekine, a village in the southeastern Mariupol Raion. At his home, they found a picture of Bal with Ukrainian marines, as well as his membership card with the Ukrainian National Union of Writers. According to writer and journalist Pavlo Kushch, Russian forces considered that the articles and books Bal published, as well as the card and the photo, were “evidence of fascism”.