Kyiv Concerned Over Russia's Plans to Transfer Isolated OSCE Staff Member to Siberia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Kyiv is deeply concerned by Russia's intentions to transfer OSCE Special Monitoring Mission staff member Vadym Golda to Siberia. According to the Ukrainian side, Golda has been held in isolation since October 15. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the official's social media accounts. The Ukrainian foreign ministry described Moscow's actions as another "flagrant disregard" for Russia's obligations under the Geneva Conventions, emphasizing that Ukrainian citizens in temporarily occupied territories are deprived of basic rights and completely dependent on the will of the occupation authorities.

Isolation and the Threat of Transfer to Siberia

According to the Foreign Minister, Vadym Golda has been held in conditions of isolation since October 15, and now, as Kyiv claims, preparations are underway for his transfer to Siberia. The Ukrainian side regards this as an attempt to finally conceal the whereabouts and detention conditions of the OSCE representative from international observers. The ministry points out that such steps make independent verification of the detainee's rights impossible and increase pressure on him personally.

Kyiv's Demands to Moscow

Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine demands Moscow provide reliable and verified information on the whereabouts and detention conditions of all three illegally detained OSCE staff members, as well as ensure immediate and unhindered access to them. "We call on the OSCE community to increase pressure on Russia to ensure the immediate release of Dmytro Shabanov, Maksym Petrov, and Vadym Golda," the minister emphasized. Thus, Kyiv is shifting the focus from bilateral demands to mobilizing the entire community of the organization.

History of Detention and 'Courts' in Occupied Territories

According to the Ukrainian side, Russia illegally detained three SMM OSCE staff members in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine — Dmytro Shabanov, Maksym Petrov, and Vadym Golda. In September 2022, the so-called "court" of the pseudo-republic "LPR" sentenced Shabanov and Petrov to 13 years in prison for alleged "high treason." Later, in August 2024, the occupation "court" in Donetsk sentenced Vadym Golda to 14 years in prison, charging him with "espionage." The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the international community have repeatedly condemned these trials and demanded the immediate release of all detained OSCE representatives.

Broader Context: OSCE Missions and Security Issues

The situation with the detained monitors fits into the broader context of the work and reputation of OSCE missions. Earlier, according to the Ukrainian side, the organization's election observation mission in Hungary included Daria Boyarskaya, a sanctioned Russian woman and translator with ties to the Kremlin; Hungarian human rights defenders called on the OSCE to change the composition of the delegation, but the organization itself called such concerns "unfounded." Separately, in December 2025, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stated that the possibility of deploying an OSCE ceasefire monitoring mission in Ukraine directly depends on the security situation, and the presence of monitors will only become reality if proper security conditions are fully guaranteed for the workers.