Halyna Hayeva spent 15 months in captiviyy in separatist-controlled region of Donetsk oblast before being released as part of the Dec. 27 exchange of prisoners. Unlike other civilian hostages sentenced to 14 or 17 years for a pro-Ukrainian flashmob or critical blog entries, Haleva really had passed information to Ukraine’s Security Service [SBU]. She told the people in the Volnovakha SBU about Russian officers and ordinary soldiers receiving treatment in her hospital. Since Russia continues to deny its active military involvement in the war in Donbas, this was enough for the Kremlin-backed ‘republic’ to ‘sentence’ her to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: Nurse held prisoner for revealing the Russian soldiers Russia claims are not in Ukraine
A Russian flag flies near Russia-backed separatists sitting atop a 2S1 Gvozdika (122-mm self-propelled howitzer) as a convoy moves from the frontline near the eastern Ukrainian city of Starobeshevo in Donetsk region, on Feb. 25, 2015.
