The family of Iryna Levchenko, a journalist detained by Russian forces in occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia oblast), only has limited contact with her due to the conditions of her detention, Iryna’s sister Olena Rudenko (who left Melitopol for Kyiv) tells ZMINA.
According to Rudenko, Iryna sends short letters through volunteers, describing her daily life and asking for news about her family. Her relatives try to support Iryna by sending her the things she needs and money through acquaintances and volunteer organisations.
“She mostly communicates [with us] through volunteers. The letters are short, sometimes just 10–11 lines, because sending them is expensive. We do our best to send her extra information about her family and life in Kyiv so that she has a sense of connection with her relatives,” Olena said.
Levchenko’s sister added that Iryna knew about the lives of her children and grandchildren, received their photos and news, but contact remained limited. She said that the Russian-appointed lawyer was not facilitating communication or access to Iryna.
Olena also said that the family had repeatedly contacted humanitarian organisations, including the Red Cross, but the interaction was unproductive:
“I just have a lot of questions for the Red Cross. They called and asked if we had any news about Iryna. Seriously? They were asking us if we knew anything. At that moment, I barely managed to hold back. Because it is this organisation that should know the news about Iryna, not us.”
The family continues to collect whatever information about Iryna they can and maintain as much contact with her as her detention allows.
Iryna Levchenko’s detention
Local journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr were kidnapped in temporarily occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhia oblast) in May 2023. This information was confirmed by IMI’s own sources in the city. Iryna and her husband have been retired for several years. The occupiers detained the couple on the street, first keeping them together and then separating them.
Iryna Levchenko has been a journalist since 1981. She worked for large-circulation newspapers, for the Melitopol district newspaper “Novy Den”, was a correspondent for regional and national printed media.
Oleksandr Levchenko worked at the Melitopol tractor hydraulic units factory and an engine factory.
Iryna was later moved to pre-trial detention No. 1 in Donetsk. The occupation authorities are charging the couple with “terrorism” and preparing them for “trial.”
Iryna Levchenko is on the Institute of Mass Information’s list of civilian journalists imprisoned by Russia.
