Repression in Zelensky’s Ukraine: Political Prisoners Announce August 5 Hunger Strike

A one-day international solidarity hunger strike will be held on 5 August 2026 in support of political prisoners in Volodymyr Zelensky’s Ukraine.

The initiative was launched by the Association for the Defence of Political Prisoners and Human Rights, founded by Ukrainian communists Mikhail and Alexander Kononovich, together with 15 prisoners at Vinnytsia Correctional Colony No. 86.

Mikhail Kononovich, First Secretary of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Ukraine, and his brother Alexander, a member of the same organisation, were arrested by the Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv on 7 March 2022. They were accused of acting on behalf of Russia and Belarus, allegations they have repeatedly rejected as fabricated. Reports published at the time stated that the brothers were beaten while in detention.

Their trial began in July 2022, with the brothers participating by video link rather than appearing physically in court. After approximately nine months in pre-trial detention, they were transferred to house arrest in December 2022 and placed under electronic monitoring. Their prosecution and continuing restrictions have prompted repeated protests by communist parties and youth organisations internationally, including the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE)

In May 2025, the brothers reported that they had again been detained by police while travelling to a hospital, with officers claiming that they were wanted for allegedly evading military service. They remain under house arrest in Kyiv with electronic monitoring.

The 5 August hunger strike is intended to draw international attention to the situation of political prisoners in Ukraine and to demand respect for their rights and their release.

source: IDC