"If Ukraine Falls, Europe Will Follow": Ukrainian Human Rights Activists Expose the Realities of Russian Aggression

Skrypnyk, president of the Crimean Human Rights Group, shed light on the systemic repression in Crimea, which has been occupied since 2014. "Crimea was just the first step before the full invasion. All the practices you see now in the newly occupied territories existed in Crimea before 2022," she said, stressing that enforced disappearances, torture, and Russification began long before the world's eyes turned to Ukraine.

In an important reflection, Skrypnyk revealed the paradox faced by human rights defenders. Despite their traditional commitment to nonviolence, the urgency to protect lives has redefined their mission. "Weapons in Ukraine today are a tool to protect human rights," she said, acknowledging the need to arm Ukraine to fight Russian aggression.

The speakers drew attention to the at least 10,000 civilians held in Russian prisons. "Men, women, journalists and human rights defenders are being tortured simply because Russia can," Skrypnyk declared, emphasizing  the need to develop mechanisms for their release. Aseyev highlighted the importance of achieving justice, noting that the key perpetrator, the former  director of Izolyatsia, was recently arrested and prosecuted in Kyiv and is serving 15 years in prison for his crimes. 

Aseyev offered further insights into the nature of Russia’s aggression, noting that "if you negotiate with Russia from a position of compromise, Russia will perceive it as a weakness. It only understands strength."

Justice was a recurring theme. For Skrypnyk, justice is multifaceted: "We need to identify all the perpetrators and all the victims. Justice is not only for Ukraine, but also for Russians, to help them recognize their crimes and transform their society." She stressed that justice would remain incomplete without reparations: "Without reparations for the victims, justice will not be complete." Aseyev underscored the importance of the role his Justice Initiative Fund has played in bringing the Russian perpetrators to justice. Not only has the leader of Izolyatsia been prosecuted within the Ukrainian system of justice but also numerous executioners of Izolyatsia have been identified, named, and  their whereabouts researched and made transparently available on the foundation’s website. 

Reflecting on his personal transformation from growing up influenced by Russian literature, music and art, Aseyev shared, "What happened in 2014 completely changed my worldview. I was a product of the Russian world paradigm, shaped by its culture and language. But that reality collapsed." This personal evolution echoed through his warnings about the global stakes of Ukraine’s resistance: "If Ukraine falls, this will not stop at our borders. Russia has mastered the craft of spreading suffering—it will reach others."

As the session drew to a close, the audience was left with an undeniable truth: the war in Ukraine is not just Putin’s war. "This war isn’t just Putin’s war," Skrypnyk noted. "It is supported by 140 million Russians who want to destroy Ukraine." Aseyev echoed her sentiments, emphasizing the collective responsibility of Russians for the atrocities.

Later that evening, both speakers were recognized for their unwavering commitment to truth and justice by Freedom Prize awards by The PL Foundation at the Museum of Danish Resistance, a fitting tribute to their relentless fight for human dignity. In their stories of pain and perseverance, Aseyev and Skrypnyk reminded the world that the struggle for human rights in Ukraine is a struggle for humanity itself.

To learn more about these experiences, Stanislav Aseyev’s The Torture Camp on Paradise Street is a harrowing yet vital look into the realities of war, resistance, and resilience. The book will soon  be available for purchase at the Ukraine House in Denmark, making it even easier for readers to connect with this powerful story of survival and truth.