The Ukrainian journalist, who was insu-caded by Russia for over three years, was released on Sunday as part of the latest prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kiev.
For over three years, 50-year-old Dmytro Khilyuk is one of the thousands of Ukrainian civilians detained in Russia, illegal under international law.
Khilyuk’s elderly parents had no information about his whereabouts, but continued their campaign for his release, attending meetings with politicians in Ukraine and abroad, protesting, and writing tireless letters to Russian authorities.
A video released by Ukrainian authorities on Sunday showed Kiriuk calling his mother shortly after he crossed to Ukraine.
“I knew you were caring about me and worried about me. Mom, don’t cry. I’ll go home soon,” he can say.
Kiryok and his father Vasil were detained by the Russian army while trying to obtain basic supplies during the occupation of Kozarovich’s village north of Kiev. Vasyl Khyliuk was released a few days later, but Dmytro disappeared without any traces.
Moscow repeatedly denied embracing him despite numerous explanations from fellow prisoners who kept him in Russian detention facilities.
The Russian Board of Inquiry and the Russian prison in Bryansk officially notified Kiriusk’s lawyers in December 2022 and January 2023 that he was not in Russia and that they had no information about him.
CNN visited Kiryok’s parents in 2024 shortly after Moscow finally admitted that he was under Russian custody, as his parents were calling him.
All of his parents had directly from Dima in a short, handwritten note from April 2022, where he said he was “living and energetic” and that Kiryuk had not received it until August of that year.
According to Khilyuk’s lawyers, he has never been charged or convicted of a crime.
Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky confirmed that Kirilyuk is among the eight civilians released on Sunday and shared photos of the group on his official telegram channel.
Ukraine’s coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners said eight civilians had been released along with soldiers and other security forces members. All released were private and sergeant, saying that almost everything spent more than three years in captivity.
Ukraine did not say how many people were included in the exchange. The Russian Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that 146 Russian military personnel had been returned from Ukraine in exchange for 146 Ukrainian prisoners, adding that eight Russian civilians from the Kursk region were also returned.
Kiev has not commented on the claim that Russian civilians are included in the exchange. Previously, when Russian civilians were released from Ukraine, Kiev said they were Russian destroyers and collaborators.
Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andry Yelmack said former Carson mayor Voldimill Mikolaenko was also released Sunday. Yermak said Mykolayenko refused to exchange in 2022, spending more than three years in Russian prisoners claiming that a serious fellow prisoner would be released first.
On Sunday, Mykolayenko said, “In recent years, we’ve seen nothing but bars and concrete.”
He described Sunday as “my second birthday,” saying, “It’s a great coincidence that mom’s birthday is tomorrow. Mom, I love you so much. She’s 91… I didn’t know if she was alive and well.”
The Ukrainian government said another journalist, Mark Kalisz, was also released on Sunday, as well as Serei Kovaljov, a medic who treated soldiers and civilians who were injured during the siege of Maripol’s Azovstal plant.
Their release marks a moment of hope for the families of Ukrainians detained in Russia.
According to Kyiv, at least 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are known to be detained in Russia, but the actual number could be much higher.
Approximately 37,000 Ukrainians, including civilians, children and military members, are officially recognized as missing.
Many were detained in occupied territories, detained for months or years without charges or trial, and deported to Russia. These include activists, priests, politicians, community leaders, and people who appear to have been taken away by Russian military.
According to the Ukrainian Institute for Popular Information, around 30 Ukrainian journalists are currently in detention in Russia, with most not being charged or convicted of anything.
Detention of civilians by right of occupation is illegal under international dispute law, except for some narrowly defined circumstances and strict time limits.
Just as it is for prisoners of war, there is no established legal framework for the treatment and exchange of civil detainees.
