Three Ukrainian citizens illegally held in Venezuela have been released and are now on their way home, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Their return was made possible through diplomatic efforts by Ukraine, with support from the US and European partners.
Ukrainians freed amid wave of international prisoner releases
On 22 January, Sybiha wrote on X that the three Ukrainian nationals had been “illegally detained” in Venezuela. He confirmed they are now safe and in transit to rejoin their families.
The minister praised the coordinated diplomatic efforts that led to their release and thanked the US and Ukraine’s European partners for their role in the process. He emphasized that protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainians abroad remains a top priority for the Foreign Ministry.
No further details were provided about the identities of the released individuals, the reasons for their detention, or the length of their imprisonment.
Part of a broader trend in Venezuela
On 11 January, US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela had launched a large-scale release of political prisoners. Days later, on 16 January, reports confirmed that Venezuela had freed citizens from the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Germany. It is not clear if the Ukrainian detainees were part of the same group or a separate effort.
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