Ukraine Journalist Held Russia: The Untold Ordeal of Dmytro Khyliuk
The harrowing case of Ukraine journalist held Russia for more than three years without charges has shocked the world. Dmytro Khyliuk, a Ukrainian reporter captured during the earliest days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, has finally been freed. His release came not through a court order, but via a rare prisoner swap.
While prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv are not new, they typically involve soldiers. In this instance, Russia released eight Ukrainian civilians, including Khyliuk, raising questions about the thousands of other missing citizens whose fate remains unknown.
The Long-Awaited Release
In July, Ukraine celebrated as 146 of its citizens returned home, most of them soldiers who had endured years of brutal captivity. Hidden among them, however, were eight civilians — including Dmytro.
Stepping off the bus draped in a Ukrainian flag, Dmytro’s first call was to his elderly mother, reassuring her he was alive. For over three years, his family had feared the worst. His father Vasyl, who was briefly detained with him back in 2022, recalls hearing gunshots at night in captivity and never knowing if his son would be the next to disappear.
Captivity and Cruelty
Dmytro’s story is not just about survival but about resilience under constant abuse. Speaking from a Kyiv hospital, he described the unrelenting cruelty he endured:
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Beatings with rubber batons while being dragged to prison.
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Guard dogs unleashed on detainees, leaving them with bloody wounds.
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Starvation, with barely enough food to stay alive, causing him to lose over 20kg in just months.
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Witnessing torture of soldiers with electric shocks and interrogations that left them broken.
Remarkably, Dmytro was never charged with a crime, a fact that highlights the murky legal gray zone in which Russia holds civilians.
The Family’s Agony
Back home in Kozarovychi, the Khyliuk family waited endlessly for news. Once, a small scrap of paper smuggled from prison arrived. It read: “I’m alive, I’m well. Everything’s ok.” That was their only lifeline.
His mother Halyna recalls bursting into tears when he finally called after his release:
“For three and a half years, we lived in fear. Now we have our son back, but I still can’t say his name without crying.”
Thousands Still Missing
The Ukraine journalist held Russia case underscores a broader tragedy. According to Ukrainian officials, more than 16,000 civilians are still missing. Many are believed to be in Russian prisons, but Moscow does not publish lists, making their return nearly impossible.
In Dmytro’s own village, 43 men are still missing. Among them is Volodymyr Loburets, detained alongside him. His wife Vera now cares for their grandson who Volodymyr has never met. Her frustration is raw:
“We smile because of the baby, but I had a husband, and now I don’t.”
Legal & Human Rights Challenges
Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, likens negotiating with Russia to “playing chess while your opponent wears boxing gloves.”
Why? Because while Ukraine follows the Geneva Convention and does not detain Russian civilians, Moscow captures Ukrainian civilians as leverage. Swapping Russian soldiers for civilians would create a dangerous precedent, effectively encouraging more abductions.
Still, some exchanges have happened. In rare cases, Ukrainian civilians have been swapped for individuals accused of collaborating with Russia. But such instances are rare and shrouded in secrecy.
Adjusting to Freedom
Now recuperating in Kyiv, Dmytro admits the return to normal life is difficult. The Ukraine he left in 2022 has changed dramatically. Drone attacks on Kyiv are now routine, cities bear scars of war, and entire communities have been reshaped by violence and displacement.
“The trees are the same, the buildings are the same. But it feels like a different country. You’re in a different reality.”
Despite this, his resilience shines through. His mother jokes she already has a “long list of chores” for him once he’s strong enough to return home.
Why This Case Matters
The ordeal of Ukraine journalist held Russia is more than one man’s survival story. It is a window into:
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Russia’s systematic violation of international law.
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The psychological toll on families left without answers.
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The human cost of a war that continues to devastate lives.
For global readers, Khyliuk’s story is a reminder that freedom of the press and human rights remain under direct threat in modern warfare.
