Evacuated the wounded from the battlefield, sentenced to 18 years

Vladyslav Plakhotnyk is a 19-year-old «Azov» fighter from Lutsk (Rivne region, Ukraine).

At 18, he went to war — first joining the National Guard, and later «Azov». There he completed military training and ended up on the front line. Vladyslav served as a driver-medic; his duty was to evacuate the wounded from combat zones.

Vladyslav was captured in the so-called «LNR» after three months on the front line. He and a wounded comrade mistakenly approached Russian positions and came under fire. His injured fellow soldier was killed; Vladyslav initially intended to blow himself up with a grenade, but then laid down his arms and surrendered.

In Russia, he was sentenced to 18 years on two “terrorism-related” charges. Here is his final statement in court:

“I fought for my country, its independence and territorial integrity. I could challenge the ‘neo-Nazi views’ or the policies of my unit here, but I won’t. I understand that I’m in Russia, and there’s no point. I leave the verdict to the court and won’t even try to appeal it. I’ve said everything I wanted.”

Vladyslav loves traveling and nature, and enjoys reading fantasy and popular science. Write him a letter!

FKU T GUFSIN of Russia for Krasnoyarsk Krai
662606, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Minusinsk, Gorky St. 114. Plakhotnyk Vladyslav Serhiiovych, born 2005