„Violence dehumanizes us.“ # Interview with Maksym Butkevych, laureate of the Václav Havel Prize

Maksym Butkevych is a Ukrainian journalist, political activist, and this year’s laureate of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. He has a rich history of involvement in human rights activism and humanitarian work, particularly in the context of Ukrainian independence. In 2022, he enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was captured by Russian forces. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, but was released during a prisoner exchange in October 2024.  

For Havel Channel, Butkevych talks with Ian Willoughby about the experience of his captivity, how Russia uses the trials of Ukrainian soldiers as propaganda material, and his personal process of overcoming fear.