In this MFRR interview, Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko recounts more than four years in Russian captivity in occupied Crimea, and the day he was released on 20 June 2025. He describes being detained by Russia’s FSB in March 2021, the staged “evidence” used to justify his arrest, and the torture used to force a confession.
Yesypenko speaks about life in Russia’s detention centres and penal colonies, the pressure applied to political prisoners, and why silence increases the risk of further deaths in custody. He reflects on the case of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna and warns about the broader system of abuse targeting journalists, civilians, and Crimean Tatar citizen journalists under the occupation.
The interview also focuses on what the international community can do to help secure releases: sustained public attention, practical support for prisoners and families, and stronger scrutiny of detention conditions.