Relatives of Azov Brigade fighters being held by Russia call for their release

(24 Feb 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Kyiv, Ukraine - 24 February 2024 1. Wide of relatives and friends of Azov Brigade fighters being held in captivity lining the street in protest outside St Sophia Cathedral 2. Tracking shot along a line of protesters holding banners 3. Olena Petrivna, mother of an Azov member who was taken captive by Russian forces after defending Mariupol holding sign reading (Ukrainian): “Captivity kills! Return my son from hell.” 4. Protesters at demonstration 5. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Olena Petrivna, mother of Azov member who was taken captive by Russian forces after defending Mariupol: “Where are you, my son? Every hour, every minute, I think about you, my dear son. From a cruel torturer, you defended the country, now you’re imprisoned, I don’t know where. God, bring my son back home, bring everyone back from captivity, don’t let them die, as they defended our country from death.” 6. Protesters holding a sign saying, “captivity kills.” 7. Petrivna, holding sign saying “Captivity kills! Return my son from hell.” 8. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Olena Petrivna, mother of Azov member who was taken captive by Russian forces after defending Mariupol: “It’s a very harsh war, why did we need it, why did we need them to come here? We lived our own lives, not bothering anyone, raising our children, building our lives. They came here and started teaching us, what to say, what language to speak. We don’t need them. We have one destiny – victory. We must win.” 9. Protesters holding signs standing along the road 10. Protesters holding signs next to St. Sophia cathedral 11. Close-up of protester holding sign addressed to the UN and Red Cross 12. Two women holding signs with photos of a soldier in captivity, Mariupol defender Mykyta Gusev 13. Close-up of a photo of Mariupol defender in captivity, Mykyta Gusev, on a banner 14. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Diana Reznik, 21, girlfriend of Mariupol defender Mykyta Gusev: “I know he’s now in Mordovia and that he is being tortured, how ruthlessly he is being tortured, I know all that. I really want him to come back, because every time I go on a demonstration, I feel like I’m dying inside. I cannot live without him, I love him very much, I loved, and I will love. That’s why I am asking very much to get him back to me.” 15. Banners with photos of Mykyta Gusev 16. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Diana Reznik, 21, girlfriend of Mariupol defender Mykyta Gusev: “I still don’t believe the war is ongoing. I don’t believe. It feels like the last year was 2021, that everything remains as it was. But when I come to a demonstration like this, it feels like the life is ruined. It is ruined indeed.” 17. Protesters holding signs along the road next to the St. Sophia cathedral 18. Woman inside of an improvised 'cage' with a tape on her lips reading “captivity kills.” 19. Cars driving by protesters on St. Sophia square 20. St. Michael cathedral’s golden domes 21. Bells ringing Ukrainian anthem melody at the bell tower of St. Michael cathedral 22. Foreign delegation driving into St. Michael’s square 23. Distant shot of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surrounded by officials at a memorial wall at St. Michael’s cathedral 24. A wreath with blue ribbons with EU stars on them next to memorial wall at St. Michael’s cathedral covered with photos of fallen Ukrainian soldiers 25. Close-up of a wreath 26. Distant shot of von der Leyen surrounded by officials walking across St. Michael’s square 27. Photos of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action after February 24, 2022, at a memorial wall at St. Michael’s cathedral Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: