Mariupol journalist Volodymyr Chertushkin released from Russian prison

Volodymyr Chertushkin, ex-journalist from Mariupol who had been taken POW in May 2022, has returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia on June 14, reports Yulia Harkusha, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Donetsk oblast who monitored the lists of Ukrainian prisoners. This information was later confirmed by the ex-journalist's wife, Anna Chertushkin, in a Facebook post.

According to the IMI representative, on the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Volodymyr Chertushkin enlisted and became the press officer with the Mariupol unit of the Territorial Defense brigade No. 109.

Volodymyr Chertushkin. Photo by Volodymyr Chertushkin on Facebook

In May 2022, Chertushkin along with other servicemembers in Mariupol received an order from the high commanders to cease defense and was taken prisoner after exiting the Azovstal plant.

Volodymyr worked as a reporter and photojournalist in local Mariupol media until 2022, including the newspaper Pryazovskyi Rabochyi.

According to the IMI representative, Volodymyr is now in rehabilitation. His return was awaited by his colleagues and family: his wife Hanna Chertushkina and their daughter.

Another Mariupol journalist who enlisted in the UAF at the onset of the full-scale war, was released from captivity on December 30, 2024 — Oleksandr Hudilin.

Volodymyr Chertushkin. Photo by Volodymyr Chertushkin on Facebook

According to the Institute of Mass Information, at least 30 civilian Ukrainian media workers are in Russian prisons today.

Ukrainian journalists who have been freed from Russian captivity: Nariman Celal, Maksym Butkevych, Oleksandr Hudilin, and Roman Borshch.