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Yana Suvorova

Date of abduction: August 20, 2023

Place of abduction: Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region

Russian security forces broke into the house of 19-year-old Yana Suvorova around three o’clock in the morning on August 20, 2023. The girl was taken away in an unknown direction, and since her parents were not at home at the time, the family learned about the disappearance of their daughter only the next day.

Yana is not a criminal. She is a media person who dared to tell the truth while remaining under occupation. The girl ran a pro-Ukrainian telegram channel, “Melitopol is Ukraine,” informing and supporting the residents of her city and giving them the feeling that they were not alone. 

After her arrest, Russian special services hacked the channel and seized control of it. Yana is being held in SIZO #2 in Mariupol, Donetsk region. She faces charges of espionage, terrorism, and participation in terrorist groups. She faces at least 15 years in prison.

This publication was compiled with the support of the International RenaissanceFoundation. It’s content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.

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