"Mom, They're Here for Me." The Story of Kherson Volunteer Iryna Horobtsova, Held Hostage by Russian Occupiers for Over Two Years

Image: Signal to Resist

Iryna Horobtsova, a Kherson IT specialist and volunteer, was abducted by Russian forces in May 2022 due to her public pro-Ukrainian position. For over 17 months, she was held in solitary confinement in a Simferopol prison without official charges or legal assistance. Her parents spent months trying to locate her. Eventually, Russia charged her with espionage. Despite these conditions, Iryna remained strong, reading over 80 books and refusing to sign false confessions. Her case illustrates the repression faced by civilians in occupied territories.

Read the full article in Signal to Resist (Ukraine) here.