Ukrainian teen sentenced to 11 years in Russia on trumped-up spying allegations

Source: UNITED24

A scandalous story unfolds in occupied Kherson where Kyrylo Rozumey, a 20-year-old Ukrainian youth, faces an 11-year prison sentence in Russia. Snatched from his home at just 18 years old, Kyrylo was accused of spying for Ukrainian troops.

The teen lived with his family in a small town in Kherson, an area seized by Russian forces during their full-scale invasion. The young man though was open about his pro-Ukrainian views, a choice that didn’t go unnoticed. In March 2023, local collaborators tipped off the occupiers, which led to Kyrylo’s abduction. The messages found on his phone allegedly mocked Russian occupational officials.

This ‘crime’ of his ended in a trip “to the basement”—a euphemism for torture chambers used by Russian forces. Kyrylo found himself in one of these grim cells, while his family’s attempts to bring him back home got nowhere.

His grandmother pleaded for answers but faced threats from armed soldiers instead.

The nightmare deepened after Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in June 2023, causing massive flooding. During the chaos, Kyrylo and other detainees were whisked away to an unknown location. His family had no clue where he was for 18 months.  They finally learned he was in a prison in Russia’s Rostov region.

Brutal conditions and intimidation made the young man confess to espionage. Russian officials swiftly sentenced him to 11 years in a maximum-security prison. According to his sister, life in the prison is nothing short of torture—prisoners are routinely beaten, deprived of fresh air for weeks, and denied basic healthcare. Kyrylo’s health has deteriorated, with severe dental issues adding to his suffering.

His family said his letters show he is holding onto his hope for Ukraine’s victory and cheering on Ukrainian athletes.