Tuesday 18 February 2025 @ 9:30 - 13:00

On Tuesday, ECR MEPs Michał Dworczyk, Małgorzata Gosiewska, and Adam Bielan will host Faces of Russian Captivity, a conference dedicated to the dire situation of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Organised in collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and the European Policy Centre, the event will feature testimonies from families of those currently held in Russian captivity.

As the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale, illegal, and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine approaches, the conference will highlight the urgent need for justice. The discussion will shed light on the devastating realities faced by prisoners of war and their families, highlighting the profound human cost of this aggression.

The international community must ensure that Russia’s escalating war crimes are met with accountability under international law.

Following the conference, an exhibition Poland first to help, will be inaugurated in the European Parliament. This exhibition showcases the extraordinary efforts of the Polish state and society in supporting Ukraine, particularly in the early stages of the full-scale invasion.

The conference Faces of Russian captivity will take place in room SPAAK 7C50 at 9:30 - 12:15.

The exhibition Poland first to help will be opened at 12:30 - 13:00 at the SPINELLI Distribution Centre Area - 3D in the European Parliament.

Agenda:

9:30 - WELCOME REMARKS

• Michał Dworczyk, MEP
• Małgorzata Gosiewska, MEP
• Adam Bielan, MEP
• H. E. Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of Mission of Ukraine to the EU

9:40 - KEYNOTE SPEECH

• Andrii Nadzhos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine

9:50 - I. PANEL DISCUSSION

Ukrainian Prisoners of War. Military Band of the 36th Mariupol Infantry Brigade

Moderator

• Amanda Paul- Deputy Head of Europe in the World Programme and Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

Panellists

• Diana Tryma - advisor to the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine
• Family members of POW
• Maksym Butkevych, human rights activist, journalist and member of the Ukrainian military

11:00 - II. PANEL DISCUSSION

Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine during the full-scale war

Moderator

• Amanda Paul- Deputy Head of Europe in the World Programme and Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

Panellists

• Mykola Kuleba – Director of the Save Ukraine Foundation
• Tetiana Tipakova – Ukrainian civilian POW, activist from Berdiansk
• Taras Matsiuk – Special Operations Forces (SSO) Ukraine
• Paweł Bobołowicz – editor of Czarne Niebo, war correspondent
• Rafał Dzięciołowski – former president of Polish Solidarity Fund
• Olha Cherniak- Ukrainian civilian POW, activist

12:00 - 12:10 Q&A SESSION