Kyiv, Ukraine — After more than two years of silence, captivity, and uncertainty, Oleksandr Boichuk, the legendary commander of the Ukrainian Navy’s minesweeper Henichesk, has finally returned home in a prisoner exchange with Russia on August 14.
Boichuk’s name may not have been on the front pages during his time in captivity, but among Ukraine’s defenders, he is known as a man of unyielding courage and loyalty. His story stretches back over a decade—from the frontlines of Crimea in 2014 to the siege of Mariupol in 2022.
⚓ A Commander Who Refused to Surrender
In March 2014, as Russian forces annexed Crimea and issued ultimatums to surrender Ukrainian naval assets, Boichuk stood alone at the helm of the Henichesk—Ukraine’s only raid-class minesweeper at the time. Faced with overwhelming odds, he refused to hand over the ship, preserving a vital part of Ukraine’s coastal defense fleet in a moment of national crisis.
This act of defiance made him a quiet symbol of naval resistance during one of Ukraine’s darkest hours.
⛓ Captivity After Mariupol’s Fall
Years later, when Russian troops launched their full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Boichuk once again stood to defend his homeland—this time in Mariupol, the devastated city that became a global emblem of Ukrainian resistance.
He was captured during the brutal siege, and for over two years, his fate remained unknown. Journalist Bohdan Kutiepov, who chronicled Boichuk’s journey, revealed that the commander’s name was not listed among official POWs, making his survival uncertain.
Yet, throughout his captivity, Boichuk’s wife and two sons—all of whom serve in the Ukrainian military—never gave up hope.
🇺🇦 A Hero Comes Home
On August 14, Boichuk was finally freed as part of a high-level prisoner exchange. His return marks the homecoming of not just a sailor, but a symbol of enduring resistance against Russian aggression—on land and at sea.
From refusing surrender in Crimea to surviving two years of silence and captivity, Oleksandr Boichuk’s legacy is one of honor, defiance, and unshakable patriotism.
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