"Ten years ago we were tortured in Donetsk RSA, and in 2017 I identified our kidnapper when he was receiving... award in Verkhovna Rada"
The kidnapper was finally arrested for treason and terrorism in 2021. But the case has not yet been brought to court.
Oleksandr Vovk, 60, and Oleksandr Hurov, 47, were tortured in May 2014 for their pro-Ukrainian position, and were so tortured that they lost their ability to work. They are still trying to get justice. Both were forced to leave Novohrodivka, Donetsk region. Vovk in 2014, and Hurov on August 1 this year, when the GAB whistled over his balcony.
This story of the two miners from Donbas shows very clearly that during the ten years of war, no moves have been made that could reduce the number of traitors and "awaiters" of the "Russian world" in our country. And this is very unfortunate. Because if the special services had responded to the emergence of collaborators in all areas of our life, they would have stamped them out in time... But we have what we have. And I am ashamed of two men from Novohrodivka, Donetsk region, because for ten years they have not received any payments from the state as people who were in captivity, nor support, because both of them lost their health and housing. If it weren't so sad, one could joke that this is the case when "Donbas is not heard"... And these are representatives of the very Donbas that are ready to die for Ukraine. And which has not betrayed it.
"FOR ME, THE RUSSIAN TRICOLOR IS A SYMBOL OF TORTURE"
I met both Oleksandrs in Kyiv, at the Institute of Neurosurgery, where they were undergoing treatment after their captivity, in May 2014. They were probably the first prisoners from Donbas, where the riots had just begun and there had been no fighting. But pro-Ukrainians were already being persecuted there. And not only that.
"On May 4, the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine released a statement saying that separatists had attacked six patriotic activists in the city of Novohrodivka, Donetsk region. Among those captured were Oleksandr Vovk, a miner at the "Rosiia" mine and member of an independent trade union organization; Oleksandr Hurov, a miner; Kostiantyn Museiko, an entrepreneur and member of the city council; and activists Ihor Bratus, Valerii Pavlyk, and Oleh Bubych. The next day, the men were released. Three of them were immediately brought to Kyiv for treatment", - this is from an article in the newspaper ‘Fakty’ on May 14, 2014.
At the time, Oleksandr Vovk was 49 years old. His face was completely bruised and his jaw was broken.
- "We gathered in Museiko's yard to discuss further actions," recalls Oleksandr Vovk. "Someone like Sasha Hurov wanted to join a volunteer unit, while others had to figure out what we would do while staying in the city, where a so-called referendum had already been held, where a Russian rag was hung over the city council. Sasha Hurov, by the way, pulled it down! Later we realized that those whose relatives served in the police knew about this meeting, and some activists were warned not to go there because there would be an attack and capture of activists... They even mentioned the names of those who were to be captured. At first, there were 11 of us at the table, but 5 left unexpectedly.
- My wife asked me not to go to that meeting," adds Oleksandr Hurov. "But people who, as it turned out later, knew what was going to happen, stopped by and drove me to Museiko's house...
- "We were attacked by the police - Museiko's house was near the police station," recalls Oleksandr Vovk. "Everyone was wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons. They shot the dogs in the yard. They beat at once so that no one could stand up. After that, they threw us into Museiko's minibus and drove us through Karlivka and Pisky to Donetsk. They brought us to the already seized building of the Donetsk regional administration.
We were taken to different rooms. They threw me on the floor and continued to kick me. They were very pleased with the way they managed to injure my face. I kept hearing screams from the neighboring rooms. I don't know who was being tortured there. Several times during the torture I was asked: "Why don't you support us? Many of you are from Russia. And your parents were mostly born there. Why are you holding on to this Ukraine?" They were frankly surprised. What could I answer them? And with my lips splitting? All I could think about was that it would all end as soon as possible.
Then, ten years ago, I asked a grown man who had worked in a mine for 40 years:
"Why are you so sure that the residents of your town, particularly the miners, are against joining Russia?
- Because I communicate with many people. I won't say everyone, but most people are in favor of Ukraine. Let me explain why. In our neighboring Rostov region, a reform was recently carried out, which resulted in the closure of 54 mines with thin coal seams. About a hundred thousand miners lost their jobs. But in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, almost all mines have such seams. If they move to Russia, they will be closed immediately. This means more than two thousand miners! Those who think and analyze what is happening at least a little bit understand this. Now to be unemployed is to die. This is the economic component. But there is also a civic position. Although I speak Russian, I feel like a Ukrainian. And I want to live in a developing country, not return to the Soviet Union. Besides, how can you want to unite with a state whose representatives beat to death those who disagree with them? In the room where I was abused, I saw the Russian tricolor in the window. For me, it is now a symbol of torture. There, in the building of the regional administration, a real Gestapo was set up."
By the way, now Oleksandr Vovk speaks Ukrainian...
The man was held in captivity from four in the afternoon until one in the morning. He was released along with two members of the Novohrodivka City Council. They were given the keys to their cars, which were also immediately driven to Donetsk, and their driver's licenses. The other three men were allowed to go home in the afternoon of the next day.
- "My mother was waiting for me at home," recalls Oleksandr Vovk, "She didn't know where to look for me, who to ask for help. She saw my face and burst into tears. I was afraid to go to the local hospital - it was not known whether it would have ended in another kidnapping. At night, I was contacted by Ukrainian People's Deputy Mykhailo Volynets. He offered to go to Kyiv, where he guaranteed me treatment and safety. I did so...
Oleksandr Vovk worked in a mine for thirty years, underground. And all the years he worked at the same mine. Even after receiving an extramural education in history, he did not change his profession. Even in retirement, Oleksandr continued to be actively involved in the life of his native mine. He became the deputy chairman of an independent trade union organization. By the way, the mine where both men worked was called "Rosiia" until 2014. "After the annexation of Crimea, when Russian troops began to seize eastern Ukraine, I was contacted by journalists more than once, because I communicate with miners, I know their moods and thoughts," Oleksandr told me, "and I told everyone: "Our Rossia is for Ukraine." Maybe I paid the price for that."
Later, the mine was renamed Kotliarevska, which is its historical name. Now it is not working. A defense line runs through it...
"THEY TRIED TO CUT A PRO-UKRAINIAN TATTOO OFF MY SHOULDER WITH THE SHARP EDGE OF A BROKEN LIGHT BULB"
Oleksandr Hurov was more seriously injured than Oleksandr Vovk. They tried to cut off his tattoo "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!"
"My torturers shouted that they would not allow this to happen," Oleksandr Hurov said ten years ago. "One of those who beat me broke a light bulb and began to remove the skin along with the letters with its sharp edge. The tattoo is partially damaged. But I will definitely restore it. They immediately tore off our chains with Orthodox crosses. They cut off my wedding ring, which was not removed. Demanding that I admit that I am against Ukraine, they strangled me with a metal chain... In the morning, I was taken with other beaten men to the TV center building. It was supposedly to make a video for Russian television about what real Banderites and fascists are. Idiots! I've been speaking Russian all my life, my surname is Russian, and my appearance doesn't look like a Banderite. However, I want to live in Ukraine. They demanded that we confess that we belonged to the Right Sector... Later, something in the plans of the invaders changed, and we were released. However, in the end, they threatened us. They said that if we were active, they would find us and not leave us alive."
"I think they were trying to intimidate us in this way so that we would speak less, not explain to people what was happening," Oleksandr Vovk added at the time. It strengthened us in the idea that we are not on the same road with Russia. We need to build a civilized country, not return to barbarism. In general, I am a peaceful person, but Russian great-power chauvinism is driving me crazy. We need to defend ourselves, to resist Putin. Otherwise, we will all be mixed with shit. It's already being said everywhere that there is no such nation as Ukrainians, and the Ukrainian language is just a dialect. This is incredible stupidity."
Even then, the men spoke directly and clearly about everything that seemed incredible and impossible to some. And at the same time, in the comments under their speeches on television, it was written that they... did not exist, that none of this was true. Even then, propaganda immediately countered the truth and distorted what was happening in Donbas. And it was getting its way. Because the farther you were from the east of the country, the more you didn't want to believe that people were really being mocked for their views and their loyalty to Ukraine. Back then, we did not know about the 17-year-old Stepan Chubenko from Kramatorsk who was tortured for the Ukrainian ribbon on his backpack. And even then, the Russian occupiers were looking for activists, afraid of them - unarmed, children, pensioners - and tried to intimidate and kill them so that they would not even say a word to people. The same thing happened in February 2022 - first of all, in the occupied Kyiv region, the Russians were looking for those who served, volunteers, and public figures. The fewer of them there are in society, the easier it will be to conquer it...
The Oleksandr's could not be intimidated. They immediately began to testify.
- "The criminal case was opened on May 4, 2014," says Oleksandr Vovk, "We cooperated with the investigators because we had to identify those who deprived us of our liberty, who tortured us. And I identified Yurii Holuban when I saw him... on TV. I was cooking at home. As usual, the TV was on. There was some news. I heard a familiar voice. This bastard who ordered our capture went to the rostrum and asked for permission to arrest Parasiuk, a Maidan commander. He was shouting on the rostrum that the Maidan activist should be arrested, and I was stunned: this was the commander of our kidnappers, the man who was giving orders to his soldiers in Museiko's yard: you go there, you go there. And imagine my indignation when Poroshenko awarded him in the Verkhovna Rada a little later!
... On 15 March 2017, the then President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko awarded Yurii Holuban the Order of Merit, III class, for his significant personal contribution to law enforcement, protection of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, and exemplary performance of official duties.
On the same day, Yurii Holuban spoke from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada. He voiced the version of law enforcement officers regarding the conflict with People`s Deputy Volodymyr Parasiuk that took place during the blockade of trade with the ORDLO, when protesters blocked the movement of trains by rail. According to Holuban, on March 14, a convoy of 13 cars, one of which included Parasiuk, was moving toward the blockaders in Bakhmut. The vehicles were stopped for inspection at a checkpoint in Sloviansk. Parasiuk allegedly gave the order to storm the law enforcement officers. There was a clash with the use of gas canisters. According to Parasiuk, the inspection went smoothly. Later, the police blocked the convoy's movement, law enforcement officers began loading their weapons and used gas canisters...
- You said that all the fighters were wearing balaclavas. How do you recognize Holuban?
- He had a kind of balaclava. It was narrower. That's why his face was open," says Oleksandr Vovk.
- "I saw him only from the back," adds Oleksandr Hurov. "At the checkpoint in the village of Mykhailivske, he stopped, hugged those who were standing there, and talked about something. I was able to look out of the bus. But I saw him only from the back. I remembered his parenthesis, cavalryman-like legs forever. And do you remember when volunteers blocked the tracks so that trains could not go from the occupied territories? He participated in the de-blockade. And he's on video everywhere: "Stay the fuck down! Stand, f**k!" He uses the word "f#ck" every other word. This is his specialty.
Are you sure it was Holuban? Maybe you are mistaken.
- "In 2014, Holuban was the commander of the Skelia special forces unit that dispersed our ATO fighters," answers Oleksandr Vovk. "And Khodakovskyi told me a lot of interesting things about him - the two of them were operating in Donetsk in 2014.
- "On the way to Donetsk, we tried to escape," adds Oleksandr Hurov. "When we entered the city, we managed to open the back door of the bus and jumped out on the move to disappear into thin air. But our guards reacted. First, they caught up with Sasha, then they chased me. I couldn't get over the last fence," the man laughs, "and I don't even know Donetsk...
- "When I was being interrogated, Holuban was laughing at me," continues Oleksandr Vovk. "How can I forget his face? He was so macho, and some pensioner was trying to run away from him. It made him very happy. So I saw his face without the balaclava.
- When was Holuban arrested?
- Even before the full-scale offensive, he was arrested for attempting to organise a third Maidan. He was given money - we suspect through Medvedchuk - for 30-50 thousand Titushky (mercenary agents in Ukraine who supported the Ukrainian security services during the administration of Viktor Yanukovych - ed. note): "Start a riot here against the authorities". A day after that, I received a call from the SSU: 'You know a Yurii Holuban...I know.
In the photo: Commenting on these images, the Oleksandr's note that in the photo on the left, Holuban is dressed in the same way as on the day of the miners' abduction. The only difference is that here he is wearing white sneakers, while during the attack on pro-Ukrainian activists he was wearing black boots, and on his left shirt he had a Colorado ribbon (ribbon of Saint George - ed. note). And this picture was taken 20 minutes before the battle in Karlivka on May 23, 2014, after which a Ukrainian soldier from the Donbas battalion was cut out of his heart by Holuban's subordinates, tied to a truck and dragged to Donetsk...
"DURING THE CONFRONTMENT, THE HOLUBAN EVEN THREATENED ME: "AREN'T YOU AFRAID THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR SLANDER?"
From media reports:
"On 30 January, two people were detained in Kyiv who, according to law enforcement, were planning to organise massive bloody riots in the capital, as well as in Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava and Cherkasy regions. This was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrskyi. According to the minister, up to 5,000 people were supposed to be involved and paid to take part in the rally in Kyiv on 31 January. Of this number, up to 1,500 people were supposed to start fights with law enforcement officers. During the protest, they planned to burn tyres, and blood was to be shed, including fake blood. According to the minister, law enforcement officers are currently checking whether the organisers of the protest had links to Russia's special services and the LDPR groups. One of the detainees was former police colonel Yurii Holuban.
"The organizers of this action had knowledge of the means and protocols of law enforcement agencies, had experience in law enforcement. And now, including jointly with the Security Service of Ukraine, their ties with unrecognized armed groups and, in particular, the special services of the Russian Federation are being studied," said Denys Monastyrskyi. "He was a law enforcement officer, has a very unclear previous history, in particular, the history in 2014. And I, as a citizen, as a minister, have a question: why wasn't this story put the lid on the matter then? Obviously, now the law enforcement agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine, should revisit these facts and raise them as part of this or a new criminal proceeding."
-Were you called after Holuban was detained?
- Yes, and since then we have been asking to merge the cases. But we have been denied. We are now demanding that our case be re-investigated and brought to court. As victims, we have lost our health. We want to file a civil lawsuit against him - let him compensate for the damage. But it seems that the case is being obstructed at the level of investigators and prosecutors in Donetsk region.
- "But the red tape is constant," adds Oleksandr Hurov. "I am surprised and angry about many things in the case. According to the papers, it turns out that our city was not surrendered in 2014. And at the same time, there was a Russian rag hanging over the executive committee, and a referendum was held in our city. And there were still people from Yanukovych's time in the militia, and then in the police. They are still opposed to Ukraine.
- "Back in 2014, you moved to Pereiaslav and did not return to Novohrodivka?" I ask Oleksandr Vovk.
- Sometimes I came on purpose. Holuban retired from his position as deputy head of the training center of the National Police special forces. He was forced to resign because of scandals. Journalists were constantly pestering him, asking about his cooperation with the separatists and his betrayal of the country. And I went to Selydove to write a statement that I recognized the commander of our kidnappers. By the way, Konstantin Museiko also identified him. It was Holuban who forced him to register everything that Museiko had to him.
For more than two years, the Pecherskyi court has been considering Holuban's case. He is accused of treason and terrorism.
Three months ago, I was in court and said everything to his face. In addition, I was at a confrontation in the Lukyanivska pre-trial detention center. I visited him three times at the request of the SSU. He was with his lawyer. SSU investigators were also present. Holuban's lawyer started asking me questions: "How were you detained?" "Nobody detained me," I answered. "I am a law-abiding person. I was kidnapped! That's what happened."
- How did Holuban behave?
- At the end, he started threatening me: 'Aren't you afraid that you are slandering me, that you will be held accountable for that? I am constantly asked by his lawyers: "Do you know what you will be held responsible for slander?" So why did you, such an expert on the law, deliberately violate it? Kidnapping, torture, inflicting bodily harm are all serious crimes.
- How ready were you to meet your executioner?
- I had no fear, although a lawyer I knew discouraged me from doing so. He said that nothing good would come of it. "No," I replied, "I will refuse, and the same investigators will then say: you refused everything yourself. By doing so, I will complicate the solving of our case myself.
- "We are pushing forward like tanks," adds Oleksandr Hurov. "I immediately told the investigators: 'Take the journal of 2014. And whoever stood at the Mykhailivskyi traffic police post on May 4 was collaborating with the occupiers. Because our captors kissed, hugged and talked to them. We saw it. But no, they won't do it. They keep sending me photos of people I have never seen in person.
- "After Holuban's detention, we also received ‘testimony’ from the traitor Khodakovskyi, who was his direct commander in 2014 and, I am sure, it was he who ordered our abduction and torture," continues Oleksandr Vovk. "The commander of the Vostok battalion said that Holuban used to serve in Alpha, but his mother got sick and he had problems with his apartment, so he went into the security business. In 2014, Khodakovskyi was looking for accomplices, traveling all over Ukraine, recruiting officers for his future unit. Holuban was found in Kryvyi Rih. But he didn't agree to join Khodakovskyi right away. But when the riots started in Donbas, he came to them himself. He became the commander of the 1st company. Khodakovskyi himself emphasizes that there were no more balaclavas in his battalion, only Holuban's company. All the others had open faces.
Khodakovskyi notes that he recognized Holuban as a former subordinate, a militant with the call sign Dragon, who was involved in the development and execution of operations. "The most active situation in which he took part was the battle in Karlivka," says the Vostok battalion commander, "Then... he gradually lost contact... We first saw him without a balaclava on the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and we received clear evidence that he was working for those with whom he fought in May 2014." Khodakovskyi also posted a video: in the frame on the left, there is a truck with a Russian tricolor and a red flag with a hammer and sickle, and armed men lined up on the right. On their left arms they wear armbands with the words "Oplot". Next to them is a man in a dark green uniform and bulletproof vest who looks like Yurii Holuban.
Already in April 2017, a protest was held in front of the Kyiv City Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs demanding Holuban's resignation and trial for alleged collaboration with militants. But, as we can see, the traitor has not yet been punished.
"IF WE HAD RECEIVED A LUMP SUM PAYMENT FOR CAPTIVITY, WE COULD HAVE BOUGHT A HOUSE FOR SASHKO AND HIS MOTHER"
- " Oleksandr and I, along with another man, also filed documents with the Strasbourg Court," continues Oleksandr Vovk. "I have already won a case in this instance. I was injured at work and almost lost my eyesight. But they wrote nonsense in the accident report. So I had to sue. I went all the way to Strasbourg and won.
- When was this?
- The injury was in 2002, and I won in 2013.
- And yet, over all these years, we have not received any monetary compensation, although there is a decision to pay a one-time allowance of 100 thousand to all those who have been captured," says Oleksandr Hurov. "I did not apply for payment. Sasha has applied more than once, but he is denied. I don't understand why. I do not argue - I was in captivity for only a day and a half...
- Wait a minute. How long do you have to be in captivity to be eligible for compensation? Who determines the period? Or the severity of the captivity?
- I agree. There are people who are released from captivity after six months and are not maimed. Luckily. In a day and a half, they managed to make two jaw fractures, my ribs were broken on the right, ligaments and tendons in my arm were damaged. I almost got gangrene. It took me a long time to recover.
- We have a certificate from the Security Service of Ukraine that we have been captured and tortured, but we have not received any money yet," adds Oleksandr Vovk.
- "And I would really need it now," continues Oleksandr Hurov, "I left Novohrodivka with my old mother on August 1. And now we have nowhere to live.
- "Why did you decide to settle in Pereiaslav?" I ask Oleksandr Vovk.
- I am not originally from Novohrodivka, although I lived there for 50 years. My mother never liked Donbas. She always said: I don't want my bones to be buried here. During my treatment, People's Deputy Mykhailo Volynets insisted that I move out of Novohrodivka: it was dangerous for me to stay there. And it was true, because local law enforcement officers were involved in our abduction. They could have made a provocation at any time. So we left with a friend and found a house in Pereiaslav. We also got into a fraudster...
The man can hardly hold back his tears. Although he had been holding up well before, remembering everything that had happened to him. But too much had happened to him in ten years. So I changed the subject of the conversation:
- How long did your mother live after the move?
- 81 and a half years. She died in 2018. She was buried in Pereiaslav. Her dream came true... After wandering around with housing, we finally found a house in the village of Vovchkiv. I laugh at the coincidence of my last name and the name of the village. My namesake once founded it. There is another house next to the one where I live - the old lady who owned it died a year and a half ago. I offered her son that we would buy the house for Sasha and his mother. But now they have no money. So if we had a hundred thousand dollars each, we could buy this house. It would be very good.
After his treatment and recovery, Oleksandr managed to fight.
- "I was in the hospital for a year," the man says. "In 2015, I applied to the military commissariat. But they refused me. Around that time, the OUN volunteer corps under the command of Syvyi was stationed in Novohrodivka. They took me in. With him, I was sent to the Butivka mine. I fought there. Then an order came to join us as a separate company in the 93rd Brigade. I also fought there. And wherever we were, I hung two flags - blue and yellow and red and black. This is very important to me. I was demobilized because of illness. I had to undergo treatment again. As a result of the torture, I lost my ability to work, but my arm was still badly injured.
During the war, I met a girl and divorced my wife. I lived in Dnipro. A year and a half ago, we broke up with her as well. I returned to Novohrodivka.
- Did you realize that the situation would get worse? That there are people who have been waiting for Russia all these years?
- 80 percent of those who lived in our town have been waiting for their own all these years. And the special services have been underworking all this time. Nothing was done to identify and punish traitors.
In late July, an S-300 flew three houses away from me. The next time it was a GAB, a small one, a hundred kilograms. But it whistled so loudly. My mother and I were thrown out of bed. All the windows were blown out. That bomb fell literally 50-70 meters away from me. And everyone told me to pack up and run away. The third time it comes, you will definitely get hurt. My mother and I had 30 thousand hryvnias, so we left on August 1.
Recently, Oleksandr sent a photo with the following comment. His house in Novohrodivka was destroyed
- What were you taking?
- Things. A sofa, two armchairs. Well, we were helped by a truck. My mom is also from here: Movchanivka, Kalenna, Skvyra. I used to ask her all the time: why did you come to Donbas? She divorced her husband here. She had no job. And her sister was already in Novohrodivka. So she went there...
- Have many people already left Novohrodivka?
- Yes. It is already a ghost town. I helped my ex-wife and son to leave.
- In the new place, Sasha helped me pump honey," says Oleksandr Vovk. "We still need to resolve the issue with this house so that he can live in the neighborhood. They are asking for 4 thousand dollars for it. But where to get it...
- "Sasha is 60 years old, I'm 47," adds another Sasha, "and I can't keep up with him - I don't have enough breath. There are some spots, a neoplasm is suspected, tuberculosis has been ruled out, but we need to do some more tests. This also needs to be addressed.
- Don't you feel that the war has been going on for 10 years and everything is very unfair?
- Yes, it does. We are fighting for our land, but what is happening inside shocks me," says Oleksandr Hurov. "It is wild that during the war, theft and corruption are going strong in the country. It's a war! You could sell your car fleets in front of the Verkhovna Rada, and people wouldn't have to save up for what they need at the front.
- If cases like ours were investigated immediately and brought to justice, there would be many times fewer of them - those people who remain supporters of the previous regimes or traitors who slow down cases and do not bring them to court. Holuban has been in jail for two years, and our case, which is ten years and three months old, has not even been brought to court yet!" Oleksandr Vovk is understandably indignant.
...I can't help but recall the Maidan case here. How did it end? It ended with the fact that most of those who shot unarmed protesters fled to Russia back in 2014. And the few representatives of the then Berkut, who were never convicted over the years, were eventually exchanged for prisoners of war. This happened in 2019, although the relatives of the Heavenly Hundred were categorically against it. Neither pickets, nor letters, nothing helped... And it is clear that Yanukovych, who actually demanded the shooting of the protesters, has not been punished or brought to justice...
P.S. It is not known when the two Oleksandrs will receive monetary compensation, or if they will. And something needs to be done about housing for Hurov and his mother. People have already started raising money to buy a house in the village of Vovchkiv. So we leave the Oshchadbank card:
4790 7299 5402 9120
Violetta Kirtoka, Censor.NET
