Ukraine: LAW files New Complaint to Free 10 Unlawfully Detained Civilians

News Release – 25 February 2026

Ukraine: LAW files New Complaint to Free 10 Unlawfully Detained Civilians

Kyiv (LAW) — This week, Legal Action Worldwide submitted a complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on behalf of the families of ten Ukrainian civilians seized in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia oblast after Russia occupied the city in 2022. We urge the Working Group to call for their immediate release, recommend compensation, and initiate an independent investigation. 

“This is not only our family’s personal tragedy, but one of thousands of cases that show how the Russian system of repression and torture works”, said Marharyta Lavryk, daughter of one detainee.

Russia has accused all ten detainees of crimes such as “terrorism” and “espionage,” relying on confessions extracted under torture and fabricated evidence. Many were targeted for refusing to sign a contract with Russia’s state atomic energy company, Rosatom, or refusing to take a Russian passport under constant coercion. Russia already tried nine of ten cases in courts that lack competence, independence, or impartiality, handing down sentences as long as 25 years.  

“Our research highlights how human rights violations are directly intertwined with risks to nuclear safety and security”, stressed Roman Koval, Head of Research at Truth Hounds, whose evidence supported LAW’s filing. “We are witnessing an unprecedented situation, in which the personnel responsible for the safe operation of the plant have themselves become targets.”

UN bodies have confirmed Russia’s widespread and systematic campaign of torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian detainees. LAW’s complaint demonstrates this pattern through the testimonies of ten civilians detained in similar conditions and subjected to the same violations.  

The nuclear plant is now a crucial facet of US-brokered Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations that have gathered pace in recent months. The US has proposed neutrality for the plant and shared energy use, while the fate of hundreds of plant employees detained by Russia was not discussed. “Territory can be split, energy can be shared between countries, but the people held hostage by Russia cannot be divided or negotiated over – they must be released immediately.” – said Ihor Kotelianets, Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin, which provided evidence to support LAW’s filing.

Over the past years, Russia has systematically refused to engage with UN Treaty Bodies and mechanisms such as the WGAD. “We cannot normalize Russia’s refusal to honour their most basic treaty obligations and systematically breach of international laws”, said Antonia Mulvey, LAW’s Executive Director. “UN Member States must remind Russia that stonewalling human rights mechanisms will not be tolerated”.

For more information, please contact:

Yuliia Homonets, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, [email protected], +380668578128 (WhatsApp)

or visit our website: https://legalactionworldwide.org/ 

Follow LAW on LinkedIn, Facebook and X

Sign the petition to release ZNPP workers, addressed directly to  

Dr. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency