Condition of the Ukrainian Journalist in Russian Captivity
Anastasiia Glukhovska, a Ukrainian journalist from Melitopol, has been held in Russian captivity since August 2023. While detained in the Kizel pre-trial detention center, she endured psychological abuse, including threats of rape and having her head forcibly shaved during intake procedures. This disturbing information was reported by Slidstvo.Info, citing two Ukrainian soldiers recently released in a prisoner exchange.
Glukhovska was abducted from occupied Melitopol on August 20, 2023. During her detention in a torture chamber, she was subjected to electric shocks. After being transferred to a detention facility in Taganrog, she went on hunger strike. She is currently held alongside another female prisoner, and together they work as seamstresses in a specially designated area within the facility.
Health Concerns
Glukhovska's health is a growing concern, particularly due to swelling in her legs. According to serviceman Stanislav Pakhomov,
“I last saw her on March 26. I heard she is a young civilian journalist and that she has problems with her legs.”A woman who was imprisoned with Glukhovska added,
“I gave her medicine. She said she was also tortured with electric shocks. You could hear the screams.”
Another serviceman, Serhii Viktorzhevskyi, who saw the journalist in the isolation ward, stated:
“I saw these two women. They were kept separately. I first saw them on March 8, 2025. They would come out and sew items, like sheets.”He also noted that 'when I left in April, the prosecutor started coming every week.'
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine is calling for action to secure the release of Ukrainian media workers, emphasizing the urgent need to protect the rights of journalists in captivity. Female prisoners are systematically humiliated, including being forcibly shaved during inspections. Following the death of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in the Kizel detention center, some procedures for detainees have reportedly changed.
This case highlights the severe human rights abuses faced by Ukrainian journalists in captivity. The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine's appeal reflects growing alarm over wartime human rights violations. Calls for the international community to condemn such actions are becoming increasingly urgent in the context of defending press freedom and protecting journalists.
As the plight of Ukrainian journalists in captivity continues to draw attention, the harrowing experiences of other captives highlight the severity of the situation. For instance, one Ukrainian prisoner endured an astonishing 888 days of starvation and was subjected to grueling 16-hour standing sessions. Such accounts underscore the urgent need for international awareness and action regarding the treatment of detainees. To learn more about this alarming situation, read about the extreme conditions faced by another captive.