Mykola Karpiuk, a co-founder of UNA-UNSO who was released in a 2019 prisoner exchange, has died while fighting on the front line.
Key facts
- •Mykola Karpiuk was 62 years old at the time of his death.
- •He was abducted by Russian forces in 2014 and held until his release in 2019.
- •Karpiuk served his prison sentence in the Vladimir Oblast of the Russian Federation.
- •He was a co-founder of the Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian People's Self-Defence (UNA-UNSO).
- •Following his release, he worked for the Office of the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner.
Mykola Karpiuk, a 62-year-old public figure and former Kremlin political prisoner, has been killed in action while defending Ukraine. His death was confirmed by associates, including Artur Palatnyi, who stated that Karpiuk died on the front line on September 19. Karpiuk was a co-founder of the UNA-UNSO organization and had previously served time in Russian prisons after being abducted in 2014.
By the numbers
Imprisonment and Release
In 2016, a Russian court sentenced Karpiuk to 22.5 years in prison on charges of killing Russian servicemen in Chechnya during the 1990s. Karpiuk and his co-defendant, Stanislav Klykh, maintained their innocence and testified that their confessions were extracted under torture. Prosecutors provided no evidence during the hearings that the men were in Chechnya during the alleged period. Karpiuk was released on September 7, 2019, as part of a 35-for-35 prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Following his return, he worked in the Office of the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner alongside fellow former political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh.
Life and Activism
Born in the Rivne Oblast, Karpiuk was a long-time participant in Ukrainian political movements, including the 'Ukraine without Kuchma' protests, the Orange Revolution, and the Revolution of Dignity. Following the Revolution of Dignity, he served as the deputy head of the Right Sector's political wing. Associates described him as a principled individual who remained committed to the defense of Ukraine throughout his life.
Timeline
- 1994–1995Period during which Karpiuk was accused of fighting in Chechnya.
- 2014Mykola Karpiuk was abducted by Russian forces.
- May 26, 2016A court in Chechnya sentenced Karpiuk to 22.5 years in prison.
- September 7, 2019Karpiuk was released as part of a 35-for-35 prisoner exchange.
- September 19Mykola Karpiuk was killed in action on the front line.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Ukrinform, Ukrainska Pravda (English).
