A book about a journalist from the Kherson region who was taken prisoner has been published

The story of Serhiy Tsygipa, a journalist from Nova Kakhovka who has been held captive in Russia for several years, has been retold in a book. The book, *Pan Tsigipa’s Alphabet*, aims not only to tell his story but also to remind readers that the fight for the release of Ukrainian prisoners continues.

This was reported by his wife, civic activist Olena Tsygipa.

The book “Pan Tsigipa’s Alphabet,” dedicated to the captive journalist from Nova Kakhovka and winner of the Igor Lubchenko Award, Serhiy Tsigipa, is officially being published.

According to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NSJU), the illustrations for the book were created by artist Olga Plaksina. As conceived by the authors, each letter of the alphabet contains a separate story reflecting the experiences, losses, faith, and hope for a return home. The book tells the story of the journey to freedom through the trials that the families of Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war must overcome.

Currently, the book is being printed in small print runs. Due to limited financial resources, it is being distributed gradually—through friends, social media, and readers who are helping to spread the word.

“I’m incredibly happy! And just imagine how happy Serhiy will be! Knowing that people remember him, support him, and are waiting for him—that’s priceless. This book will be an important sign of support for him there, behind Russian bars,” emphasized Olena Tsygipa.

According to her, it is precisely the support of caring people that makes it possible to continue printing new batches of the book. The journalist’s family hopes that “PanTsipa’s Alphabet” will help even more people learn about the fate<b>of the journalist</b>and other Ukrainians whom Russia is illegally holding captive.

The journalist was abducted on March 12, 2022, while on his way to Tavriysk to deliver medicine to his mother-in-law. He was initially held in a pretrial detention center in Simferopol and later transferred to a penal colony in the Russian Federation. In October 2023, the so-called Supreme Court of Crimea sentenced Serhiy Tsygipa to 13 years in prison on charges of espionage. The charges were based on testimony from anonymous individuals and fabricated expert reports from specialists collaborating with Russian intelligence services. The trial was marred by gross violations of international law.

Анна Бальчінос