In Ukraine's modern realities, the topic of civilian prisoners remains one of the most painful and least covered. In our new issue of "Conversations about Restoration," Roman Baklazhov, head of the community of former civilian prisoners "Prisoners of Kherson," shared his experience, vision, and important aspects of the work that helps these people not only survive but also fight for their rights.
This issue is about the pain that the eyes cannot see and about the struggle that continues even after release. About those who did not hold a weapon in their hands, but went through hell for the love of Ukraine. About injustice that is difficult to explain: when the state is silent, and society does not yet understand the scale of the tragedy. And also about strength. The strength to speak, unite, defend, and end rights and dignity where everything seems lost. This is not just a talk. This is the voice of those who returned from the darkness and are unafraid to tell the truth. So that we can hear, know, and act. This conversation will reveal what the life of civilians looks like during the occupation, what support they receive after captivity, as well as what can be done to restore the Kherson region and support the victims.
Roman Baklazhov spent almost 2 months "in the basement" (torture chamber) during the occupation of Kherson, and knows perfectly well what the Russians do to those who support Ukraine. After being released from the torture chamber, Roman began to look for prisoners like him, to get acquainted with the activities of charitable foundations that help civilian prisoners. According to Roman, until recently, there was no official status as a civilian prisoner. This led to creating a community of former civilian prisoners, "Prisoners of Kherson". The community unites a little more than one and a half hundred people from different regions, including Kherson, Chernihiv, Azovstal, and others, who went through Russian torture chambers and survived torture. They are helped to solve health problems (all of them are physically and mentally traumatized), restore documents, and prove the fact of being in captivity to receive appropriate status and monetary compensation from the state. According to Roman Baklazhov, civilians often experienced greater torture than military personnel. At the same time, they do not have the same status in prisoner exchanges and receive almost no state support.
“Military personnel were written off and not taken into the army after being captured, while civilians were mobilized, despite their injuries and psychological state. Civilian prisoners are often ignored because it is difficult to prove the fact of being in captivity due to the lack of proper procedures and evidence. The special commission that considers such cases does not always recognize the status of those illegally deprived of their liberty, which makes it difficult to receive assistance and benefits. The Red Cross also cannot prove that civilians are in captivity, even if there is photo and video evidence from court hearings in Russian courts,” Roman says.
The community is actively engaged in advocacy activities. In particular, it participated in developing the law on the mobilization of civilian prisoners of war at its own request, which was signed by the president on December 31. This was an essential step in recognizing this category of citizens' special needs and rights.
Today, Roman Baklazhov also represents the November 11 Foundation, which is engaged not only in supporting former prisoners but also in assisting victims of sexual violence during the armed conflict. In six months, they have collected about 500 victims who received interim reparations of 3,000 euros. This is an important initiative based on the experience of the conflict in Yugoslavia and is a step towards complete rehabilitation. In addition, the Foundation helps people who have been injured or have psychological trauma, promotes their social adaptation, and organizes gyms for veterans with amputees and other rehabilitation projects.
Kherson region is a region that has very keenly felt all the "flavors of the Russian world." The lack of everyday life, the cessation of business, and complete uncertainty are the realities that local residents have had to face. Due to constant shelling and continuous drone attacks, people live in constant fear and tension. As Roman says, even walking around the city is a risk, because it is impossible to predict where and when an explosion will occur.
“Drones have started flying as if they were at home. But despite this, businesses are operating, and the central streets are clean. The city is trying to maintain life: shops are opening, hospitals are operating, albeit with restrictions. People are trying to live. But at the same time, some areas resemble Pripyat,” says Roman, comparing the Kherson situation with the city abandoned after the Chernobyl disaster.
At the same time, Roman Baklazhov believes that we should think about restoring today. These initiatives must come to the city after the cessation of hostilities, regardless of when this will happen. Restoration requires not only physical reconstruction, but also social support. The community of former prisoners organizes events, helps eliminate the consequences of shelling, and works to create sports halls for veterans and people with disabilities. These initiatives must come from the residents and volunteers themselves, because state support is often insufficient: “We constantly cooperate with international funds and public organizations. Unfortunately, we do not work much with public authorities at all. Now we will talk to the authorities so that there is some support for civilian prisoners.”
According to various estimates, the number of civilian prisoners remains uncertain — the figures range from 7,000 to 25,000. Most of all, Roman Baklazhov’s foundation is currently dealing with the issue of the “Kherson Nine” — nine residents of the Kherson region who were detained by the Russians, are in prisons in Crimea and Rostov, and are under threat of life imprisonment on charges of “international terrorism.” According to Roman, the lawyers who worked on these cases are under pressure, and the Red Cross does not confirm the prisoner status of many civilians. This complicates the process of exchange and receiving assistance. Volunteers are trying to support these people, but the problem remains large-scale and complex.
The main problem is the lack of a straightforward procedure for exchanging civilian prisoners. Military personnel are exchanged one for another, while civilians are often left out. Roman and his community are actively working to improve legislation, to ensure fair status and rights for civilians who survived captivity. One of the key problems, according to Roman Baklazhov, remains the lack of public awareness of the situation in Kherson. Many people, even in nearby regions, still do not know that Kherson was deoccupied in 2022, and do not know the real picture of life there. This causes alienation and indifference. Roman emphasizes that Kherson residents must tell their own story, actively attract attention to the region's problems, and not allow information to disappear from the media. It is also essential to support initiatives that unite people and create a common space for communication and assistance to displaced persons from Kherson to other regions of Ukraine.
Despite all the difficulties, Roman is optimistic about the future of the Kherson region. He believes that most residents will return home, because this is their homeland, their home. It is essential to make plans not only for the current moment but also for the long term, including the creation of infrastructure, social programs, and support for victims. The community continues to work to ensure a dignified life for those who survived the occupation and captivity.
This conversation is a call for understanding, support, and action. After all, behind every number and statistic are living people with their own stories, hopes, and dreams. We must accomplish the tasks of supporting civilian prisoners, restoring Kherson, and preserving civic unity together.
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