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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Shaun Walker, with photography by Misha Friedman

Jailed as collaborators: the stories of Ukrainians who ended up in prison

A man covering his face with his hands, with the word 'Ork' tattooed on his forehead.
The Guardian was given access to two prisons in Ukraine. Photograph: Misha Friedman

A longstanding supporter of Russia who shared classified information about Ukrainian troop movements. A woman who said her husband had secretly sent information and maps to the Russians using her phone. Another woman targeted by online flirting that turned out to be a Russian intelligence sting.

One by one, the prisoners entered the visiting room to tell their stories. The women were dressed in prison uniforms of thick grey winter coats with a headscarf knotted over the hair, and the men in regulation brown overalls. All were serving sentences for one of two crimes under Ukrainian law: cooperation with the enemy state, Russia, or providing the enemy with information about Ukrainian troop movements.

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