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A leading Ukrainian human rights organisation, Human Rights Centre ZMINA, has today launched a new campaign, #TheTaken, demanding Russia release dozens of abducted Ukrainian civilians that have been disappeared by Russian forces.  In a massive show of solidarity and support, dozens of political leaders and celebrities have endorsed the campaign on Twitter, including UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, and Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba; former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron; former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt football star Gary Lineker; historian Francis Fukuyama, and business leader Sir Richard Branson.  Actor Liam Neeson is also supporting the campaign.

Sharing ZMINA’s campaign post, Liz Truss’s Tweet read: “Putin continues to use abhorrent tactics against the Ukrainian people, including abducting civilians. He is not achieving his objectives and is resorting to desperate measures. Putin must fail in Ukraine. #thetaken”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter: “Getting no local support in Ukraine, Russian invaders abduct elected local leaders, activists, and journalists. Join the Day of Action by Ukrainian human rights activists @zminaUkraine. Post names and faces of the abductees with #TheTaken hashtag to demand their immediate release.”

David Cameron tweeted: “Putin’s tactics in Ukraine are truly horrific. Innocent civilians continue to be abducted & deported to Russia. I join @zminaUkraine & the people of Ukraine in demanding the immediate release & safe return of #TheTaken. On this Day of Action, show Putin that the world is watching.”

Carl Bildt wrote: “Whenever Russia occupies territory in Ukraine they arrest individuals and in many cases deport them to Russia and an uncertain fate. They want to crush believers in democracy and freedom. #TheTaken”

Richard Branson tweeted: “Putin can't take Ukraine so he's taking its people. Dozens of civilians are missing and thousands more deported to Russia. These people have names and faces. Please share them and demand their safe return. Ask @KremlinRussia_E ‘Where are the taken?’ #TheTaken”

Diplomats at the UN are also supporting the campaign, with the Permanent Missions of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia all publishing Tweets.

ZMINA has published a list of civilians that have been abducted by the Russian government and is demanding for their immediate release.  ZMINA alleges that the Russian government is responsible for targeted abductions to silence key voices and intimidate Ukrainian civilians.

Tetiana Pechonchyk, Head of ZMINA, said: “Russia is detaining and disappearing civilians in an attempt to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. They aren’t soldiers – they are journalists, activists, volunteers, community representatives, elected officials and council workers. Their number grows daily. Today we are publishing our first list of those who have been taken so the Kremlin knows the world is watching and will not allow them to come to harm. In total we have so far documented 39 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions in the Ukrainian territories newly occupied by Russia. We ask everyone to join us in sending a message to Moscow - we know who you have taken and we will not forget their names.” 

A campaign event in Lviv, Ukraine, planned for Monday evening, has been postponed by the local authorities for 24 hours, due to security concerns following Russian airstrikes on the city, just a few miles from the border with Poland.  On Tuesday evening, ZMINA will host a media event, screening a campaign film and projecting the faces of those abducted onto the side of a building, creating a powerful image and photo opportunity.

Oleh Baturin, a journalist from Kherson region, was taken and arbitrarily detained for eight days on his way to meet a friend at a bus stop.  He was released on 20th March.  He said: “I was beaten up, humiliated, threatened.  They told me they would kill me.  I had almost no food, no water for several days.  They wanted to break me down, crush me.  They wanted to show me what will happen to other journalists: you will be crushed.  You will be killed.”

Hugh Williamson, Director for Europe and Central Asia division, Human Rights Watch said:  “These allegations are extremely disturbing. Since 2014, HRW has documented numerous cases of Russia-backed armed groups in Donbas holding civilians in prolonged, arbitrary detention. Some of these constituted enforced disappearances. The Russian authorities should abide by international law and free arbitrarily detained civilians immediately.”

People who want to join in with the campaign are being encouraged to post the graphic attached to this release on their social media accounts along with the following suggested text:

Putin can't take Ukraine so he's taking its people. Dozens of civilians are missing and thousands more deported to Russia. These people have names and faces. Please share them and demand their safe return. Ask @KremlinRussia_E ‘Where are the taken?’ #TheTaken