Maksym Butkevych hands a list of detained journalists to Zelensky

On October 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with representatives of various civil society organizations, discussed the victory plan and called for working together to bring its points to life.

Journalist and human rights advocate Maksym Butkevych, who was recently released from Russian custody, was present at the meeting and gave the president the list of detained journalists.

As reported on the President's website, the discussion mainly focused on the contribution of Ukraine's civil society to the victory of Ukraine and its opportunities to promote the victory plan.

Maksym Butkevych and Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo source: president.gov.ua

According to Zelensky, the civil society can help unite both Ukrainians with one another and the world community around support for Ukraine. Our victory requires exactly the kind of unity that existed in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion, he said.

The meeting was attended by representatives of two dozen civil society organizations working in international politics, advocacy, human rights, security and defense, reports the ZMINA Human Rights Center. The discussion touched on a wide range of issues, including the promotion of the victory plan through public diplomacy, developing our own military industry, stepping up sanctions, namely targeting Russia's tanker fleet, the release of prisoners, support for veterans, rotation of military personnel and the draft, defending democracy, quality of governance.

During his speech, Maksym Butkevych thanked the state structures and the civil society, everyone who was involved in his and his comrades' release. He said that they were the first to be released from the Luhansk oblast prison where he was serving his sentence along with four dozen other POWs convicted on fabricated charges, and this release gives hope that "the process has been unfrozen."

"Ukrainians in Russian captivity are like insects stuck in amber. Time has stopped for them, but it is important for all of them to know that everything possible is being done to free them," he said.

Butkevych called for continued work towards the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians and separately mentioned the human rights advocates and journalists detained by the Kremlin. He handed Volodymyr Zelensky a list of 30 detained journalists and two human rights advocates.

In turn, Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Maksym Butkevych on his return home and stressed the need to join forces for the restoration of justice and peace in Ukraine.

Journalist and human rights advocate Maksym Butkevych returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity as part of a prisoner swap on October 18. He is the second Ukrainian journalist to be released from Russian custody in 2024.

Earlier, the Institute of Mass Information published a list of Ukrainian journalists detained by Russia. According to the IMI, at least 29 civilian Ukrainian media professionals and two journalists who are combatants are in Russian custody.