:Oleh Sentsov

Sentsov was born on 13 July 1976[https://www.unian.info/m/politics/10186305-pardon-my-son-sentsov-s-mother-appeals-to-putin.html "Pardon my son": Sentsov's mother appeals to Putin], UNIAN (13 July 2018) in Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/nl/persons/oleg-sentsov/ |title=Oleg Sentsov |publisher=International Film Festival Rotterdam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715000911/http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/nl/persons/oleg-sentsov/ |archive-date=15 July 2014}} He is an ethnic Russian."[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-almodovar-leigh-putin-ukrainian-oleg-sentsov-20140610-story.html Almodovar, Leigh petition Putin on jailed Ukrainian Oleg Sentsov]". Los Angeles Times. 10 June 2014. From 1993 to 1998, he was an economics student in Kyiv. His first two short movies were A Perfect Day for Bananafish (2008) and The Horn of a Bull (2009). Gamer, his first feature, debuted at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2012. Its success in this and other festivals helped him secure funding for Rhino. It was scheduled to begin shooting in the summer of 2014,{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/07/7/7031204 The Court extended the arrest in Moscow Ukrainian director], Ukrayinska Pravda (7 July 2014) but production was postponed due to his participation in the AutoMaidan and Euromaidan protest movements.

During the 2014 Crimean crisis, he helped deliver food and supplies to Ukrainian military servicemen trapped in their Crimean bases. Sentsov has stated that he does not recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea.{{#tag:ref|Since Ukraine lost the control over the peninsula to Russia in March 2014 the status of the Crimea and of the city of Sevastopol is under dispute between Russia and Ukraine; Ukraine and the majority of the international community consider the Crimea to be an autonomous republic of Ukraine and Sevastopol to be one of Ukraine's cities with special status, while Russia, on the other hand, considers the Crimea to be a federal subject of Russia and Sevastopol to be one of Russia's three federal cities.{{cite news|last=Gutterman |first=Steve |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |title=Putin signs Crimea treaty, will not seize other Ukraine regions |date=18 March 2014 |agency=Reuters.com |access-date=26 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26248275 |title=Ukraine crisis: Timeline |date=13 November 2014 |website=bbc.co.uk}}[http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml UN General Assembly adopts resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304200543/http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml |date=4 March 2018 }}, China Central Television (28 March 2014)|group=nb}}

Sentsov was arrested on 11 May 2014 in Crimea on suspicion of "plotting terrorist acts".{{in lang|uk}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20141128040544/https://life.pravda.com.ua/person/2014/07/7/174429/ Олег Сенцов: до мене застосовували тортури та приниження], Ukrayinska Pravda (7 July 2014, in Ukrainian) With Gennady Afanasyev, Alexei Chirniy, and Alexander Kolchenko, he became one of four Ukrainian citizens held by Russia's Federal Security Service, who accused them of seeking to carry out terrorist attacks on bridges, power lines, and public monuments in the Crimean cities of Simferopol, Yalta, and Sevastopol. These charges were punishable with up to 20 years in prison.

After holding Sentsov without charges for three weeks,{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oleg-sentsov-jail-ukraine-director-russia-20140716-story.html|title=For Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, a battle with no end in sight|work=Los Angeles Times|date=16 July 2014}} the Federal Security Service accused the four Ukrainians of being "part of a terrorist community, to carry out explosions with home-made devices on May 9, 2014 near the Eternal Flame memorial and Lenin monument in Simferopol and to set fire to the offices of the Russian Community of Crimea public organization and the United Russia party branch in Simferopol on April 14 and April 18, 2014". The four were also accused of membership in Ukraine's nationalist paramilitary group, Right Sector, a claim that both Sentsov and Right Sector denied. Russian prosecutors stated that Sentsov confessed to the terrorist plots. Sentsov denied this and stated that he had been beaten and threatened with rape to force his confession. According to Sentsov's lawyers, investigators refused to open a case on his allegations of torture, suggesting that his bruises were self-inflicted and that he was keen on sado-masochism.

Starting on 19 May 2014, Sentsov was detained in Moscow's Lefortovo prison.{{cite web|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/217461.html|title=Ukrainian film director Sentsov to remain in custody – Moscow City Court|url-status=dead|website=Interfax-Ukraine|date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812004206/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/217461.html|archive-date=12 August 2014|access-date=8 August 2014}} On 7 July 2014, Sentsov's arrest was extended to 11 October. In October 2014, his arrest was again extended to 11 January 2015.{{cite web|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/230426.html|title=Ukraine film director Sentsov to stay in custody|website=Interfax-Ukraine|date=24 October 2014}}

Ukrainian authorities were banned by their Russian counterparts from contacting or helping Sentsov.{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/20/7029658 Russia does not even because of arrested Ukrainian director Sentsov], Ukrayinska Pravda (20 June 2014) According to Sentsov, he was deprived of his Ukrainian citizenship.

File:Oleg Sentsov, Ukrainian political prisoner in Russia, 2015.JPG

Sentsov went on trial for terrorism in Russia on 21 July 2015 among international outcry.{{cite web|last=Luhn |first=Alec |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/21/ukrainian-film-director-oleg-sentsov-trial-terrorism-russia-crimea |title=Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov goes on trial for terrorism in Russia |date=21 July 2015 |publisher=Guardian |access-date=22 July 2015}}

The main witness for the prosecution, Afanasyev, retracted his testimony in court on 31 July, saying it was given under duress.{{Cite web|title = Процесс Сенцова. Допрос Афанасьева|url = http://zona.media/online/sentsov-afanasev/#7983|access-date = 5 September 2015|publisher = МедиаЗона|date = 31 July 2015}} According to the Afanasyev's lawyer, Afanasyev was tortured, including with electric current.[https://zona.media/news/2015/05/08/afanasev-o-pytkakh Convicted in the case about "Crimean terrorists" Afanasyev has told about tortures after his detention and pressure after his refusal to testify in court (Осужденный по делу «крымских террористов» Афанасьев рассказал о пытках после задержания и давлении после отказа от показаний в суде)]. Mediazona. 5 August 2015 The other main witness, Oleksiy Chirnyi, refused to testify in court.{{cite web|title=Challenge Putin's Lies about imprisoned Ukrainian Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov|url=http://khpg.org/index.php?id=1494021982 |website=khpg.org |publisher=Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group|access-date=21 January 2019}}

A Russian court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Sentsov to 20 years in prison on 25 August.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34049595|title=Russia Jails Ukraine Director Sentsov on Terror Charges|work=BBC|date=25 August 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Shaun|title=Russian court jails Ukrainian film-maker for 20 years over terror offences|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/25/russian-court-jails-ukrainian-filmmaker-oleg-sentsov-for-20-years-over-terror-offences |website=The Guardian |date=25 August 2015 |access-date=25 August 2015|ref=guardian-jails}}

Sentsov initially served his sentence in the Russian federal subject Sakha Republic.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/12/oleg-sentsov-jailed-ukrainian-film-maker-letter-siberian-prison-putin Letter from Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov smuggled out of prison], The Guardian (12 September 2016) In October 2016, Russia refused to extradite Sentsov to Ukraine, claiming that he was a Russian citizen. In September 2017, he was transferred to Russia's northernmost prison, the Labytnangi Penal ColonyФКУ ИК-8 УФСИН России по Ямало-Ненецкому автономному округу http://www.89.fsin.su/structural_units/ik8.php in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.{{cite news |title=Ukrainian Filmmaker Sentsov Reportedly To Be Transferred To Russian Far North Prison |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-sentsov-transferred-russia-far-north/28766310.html |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=30 September 2017 }} He declined visits by his family after observing that once the visitors leave other prisoners "fall into terrible deep depression". On 14 May 2018, he went on an open-ended hunger strike protesting the incarceration of all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and demanding their release.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/imprisoned-ukrainian-filmmaker-oleg-sentsov-12-days-into-hunger-strike/5129670.article|title=Oleg Sentsov 12 days into hunger strike|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=25 August 2018|publisher=Screen Daily|access-date=28 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/16may2018/sentsov.html|script-title=ru:"Вместе и до конца": режиссер Сенцов, осужденный в России на 20 лет колонии, объявил голодовку, требуя освободить 64 украинца|date=16 May 2018|publisher=Newsru|language=ru|access-date=28 May 2018}}{{cite news |title=Ten reasons you should give a damn why Oleg Sentsov's hunger strike matters |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/06/08/ten-reasons-you-should-give-a-damn |access-date=10 June 2018 |work=Meduza |date=8 June 2018}} After 145 days of the hunger strike, he ended it due to health concerns and the threat of force feeding.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/25/jailed-ukrainian-film-maker-oleg-sentsov-wins-sakharov-prize|title=EU rebukes Putin with human rights prize to jailed Ukrainian film-maker|date=25 October 2018|access-date=25 October 2018|work=The Guardian}}Oliver Carroll. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/oleg-sentsov-hunger-strike-end-russian-jail-ukraine-filmmaker-siberia-a8569901.html Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov ends 145-day hunger strike in Russian jail] at The Independent, 5 October 2018

According to the Ombudsperson of Ukraine Valeriya Lutkovska, the decision of the Rostov court toward Ukrainians Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko constituted discrimination based on national origin.[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/lutkovska_vbachae__u_spravi_sentsova_diskriminatsiyu_za_natsionalnoyu_oznakoyu_2091684 Lutkovska sees in the Sentsov's case a discrimination on national origin]. Ukrinform. 4 September 2015.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, in a statement on its website, called the trial "a judicial farce".{{Cite news|title = Russia Gives Ukrainian Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov a 20-Year Sentence|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/world/europe/russian-court-sentences-ukrainian-filmmaker-to-20-years-in-prison.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 25 August 2015|access-date = 5 September 2015|issn = 0362-4331|first = Sophia|last = Kishkovsky}}

File:For a free Russia without repression and despotism 109.jpg

On 26 June 2014, Russia's Presidential Council for Human Rights appealed to Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin to review the circumstances surrounding the arrests of Sentsov and fellow activist Oleksandr Kolchenko. A reply, posted on the council's website, stated prosecutors found "no grounds" for altering the detention of either suspect.

More than 60 members of the Russian PEN center and several major Russian filmmakers expressed their support, including Nikita Mikhalkov, Andrey Zvyagintsev, and Alexander Sokurov.{{Cite news|title = Ukraine film director Sentsov in 'terror' trial in Russia| work=BBC News | date=21 July 2015 |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33607790|access-date = 8 September 2015}}[http://www.unian.info/politics/1658487-putin-on-revision-of-sentsov-verdict-appropriate-conditions-should-ripen.html Putin on revision of Sentsov verdict: "Appropriate conditions should ripen"], UNIAN (2 December 2016)

The Memorial Human Rights Center declared that Sentsov and Kolchenko were political prisoners in Russia.{{Cite web|title = "Мемориал" считает Олега Сенцова и Александра Кольченко политзаключенными|url = http://www.memo.ru/d/242165.html|website = www.memo.ru|access-date = 8 September 2015}}

The European Union and the United States condemned Sentsov's detention and called for his release.[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/229412.html US calls on Russia to immediately release detained Ukrainian citizens Savchenko and Sentsov], Interfax Ukraine (18.10.2014)

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated that "the EU considers the case to be in breach of international law and elementary standards of justice".{{Cite web|title = European Union – EEAS (European External Action Service) {{!}} Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini on the sentencing by a Russian court of Ukrainian citizens O. Sentsov and O. Kolchenko|url = http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150825_01_en.htm|website = eeas.europa.eu|access-date = 5 September 2015|date = 25 August 2015}}

Western governments, Amnesty International, and European Film Academy deputy chairman Mike Downey described the proceedings as a show trial.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/ukrainian-filmmaker-oleg-sentsov-russian-court-suffer-or-die-for-his-beliefs|title=Ukrainian Filmmaker Tells Russian Court He Will "Suffer or Die" for His Beliefs|work=The Guardian|date=19 August 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11812766/Controversial-trial-of-Ukrainian-filmmaker-closes-in-Russia.html|title=Controversial Trial of Ukrainian Filmmaker Closes in Russia|work=The Telegraph|date=19 August 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/08/crimean-activists-hauled-before-a-russian-military-court/|last=Ovcharuk|first=Bogdan|date=10 August 2015|title='The System Does Not Forgive' – Crimean Activists Hauled before a Russian Military Court|publisher=Amnesty International|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616080417/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/08/crimean-activists-hauled-before-a-russian-military-court/|archive-date=16 June 2018|access-date=17 March 2022}}{{Cite web|title = Russian Federation: Drop terror charges against Ukrainian activists: Oleg Sentsov and Aleksandr Kolchenko|url = https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/2202/2015/en/|website = www.amnesty.org|access-date = 5 September 2015|date = 30 July 2015|id = EUR 46/2202/2015}} The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe recognized Sentsov as a political prisoner.{{Cite web|date=2 May 2017|title=Political Prisoners in Russia|url=https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/political-prisoners-russia|access-date=29 June 2021|website=CSCE|language=en}}

The United States called the sentencing a "miscarriage of justice", stating that "Mr. Sentsov and Mr. Kolchenko were targeted by authorities because of their opposition to Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea". Saying that Sentsov and Kolchenko were "taken hostage on Ukrainian territory", it called upon the Russian Federation to "implement the commitments it made in signing the Minsk agreements by immediately releasing Sentsov, Kolchenko, Savchenko, and all other remaining hostages".{{Cite web|title = Sentencing of Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko|url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/08/246322.htm|access-date = 5 September 2015}}

The German government's special envoy for human rights and humanitarian affairs said in a statement that he was "shaken" by the severity of the sentences and urged Russia to comply with Council of Europe norms for the humane treatment of prisoners.

European film directors Agnieszka Holland, Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, and Pedro Almodóvar co-signed a 10 June 2014 letter by the European Film Academy to Russian authorities, demanding that the charges against Sentsov be dropped and the allegations of torture investigated.[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jun/10/ken-loach-mike-leigh-ukraine-russia-director-oleg-sentsov Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and others call for release of Ukrainian director], The Guardian (10 June 2014){{Cite web|title = European Film Academy: Help Us to Help Oleg Sentsov !|url = http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/News-detail.155.0.html|website = www.europeanfilmacademy.org|access-date = 5 September 2015}} Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf dedicated his acceptance of the 2015 Robert Bresson Prize at the Venice Film Festival to Sentsov, calling the conviction a "major injustice" and the sentence "a move to intimidate all Russian society, especially the intellectuals and artists".{{Cite web|title = Mohsen Makhmalbaf voices support for imprisoned fellow director Oleg Sentsov|url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/sep/07/mohsen-makhmalbaf-oleg-sentsov-robert-bresson-prize-venice-film-festival|website = The Guardian|access-date = 8 September 2015|date = 7 September 2015}}

The European Parliament supported a resolution calling for the immediate release of Sentsov and other Ukrainian political prisoners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/european-parliament-urges-russia-to-release-sentsov-other-ukrainian-political-prisoners-/29290146.html|title=European Parliament Urges Russia To Release Sentsov, 'Political Prisoners'|date=14 June 2018|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|language=en|access-date=15 June 2018}} Before the vote, all major political groups in the European Parliament, when discussing the human rights situation in Russia, called for the release of Sentsov and 158 other political prisoners held in the country. The participants in the debate stressed the need to continue sanctions pressure on the Kremlin, and European leaders and diplomats were urged not to attend the World Cup, which opened 14 June in Russia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/european-parliament-to-call-for-release-of-political-prisoners/|title=European Parliament to call for release of political prisoners|date=13 June 2018|work=Greens/EFA|access-date=15 June 2018|language=en}}

The Sejm of Poland adopted a resolution on 15 June 2018 demanding the release of Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia for political reasons. In the resolution deputies demanded, in particular, the release of Sentsov, Kolchenko, and Sushchenko.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gazetaprawna.pl/artykuly/1138682,sejm-podjal-uchwale-ws-uwolnienia-obywateli-ukrainy-wiezionych-z-przyczyn-politycznych.html|title=Sejm podjął uchwałę ws. uwolnienia obywateli Ukrainy więzionych z przyczyn politycznych|last=Roś|first=Edyta|work=gazetaprawna.pl|access-date=15 June 2018|language=pl}}

Sentsov was granted the title of honorary citizen of Paris on 24 September 2018.{{cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/533529.html|title=Sentsov becomes honorary citizen of Paris|website=Interfax-Ukraine|date=24 September 2018}} Sentsov was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize on 25 October 2018, in a move described by The Guardian as an EU rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In November 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which called for the urgent release of Ukrainian citizens Sentsov, Volodymyr Balukh, and Emir-Usein Kuku.

File:Oleh Sentsov return 03.jpg

In August 2019, Sentsov was moved from an Arctic prison to a jail in Moscow amid talks of prisoner swaps.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-sentsov-idUSKCN1VJ0PR|title=Jailed Ukrainian filmmaker brought to Moscow amid prisoner swap...|date=29 August 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=29 August 2019|language=en}} On 7 September 2019, in a prisoner swap with Ukraine,{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/09/07/signaling-readiness-for-thaw-russia-and-ukraine-swap-prisoners-a67090|title=Signaling Readiness for Thaw, Russia and Ukraine Swap Prisoners|last=Gershkovich|first=Evan|date=7 September 2019|website=The Moscow Times|language=en|access-date=7 September 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/reuters-sentsov-24-ukrainian-sailors-in-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html|title=Reuters: Sentsov, 24 Ukrainian sailors in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap {{!}} KyivPost – Ukraine's Global Voice|date=7 September 2019|website=KyivPost|access-date=7 September 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-russia-prisoners-sentsov-idUKKCN1VS079|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001234713/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-russia-prisoners-sentsov-idUKKCN1VS079|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2019|title=Filmmaker Sentsov, 24 Ukrainian sailors in Russia-Ukraine prisoner...|date=7 September 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=7 September 2019|language=en}} Russia released Sentsov. On that same day he returned to Kyiv, where he and other returning prisoners were welcomed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-razom-z-usiyeyu-ukrayinoyu-mi-povernemo-ne-tilki-l-57145|title=President: Together with all Ukraine we will return not only people, but also our territories|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|access-date=7 September 2019}} and where Sentsov reunited with his family.

The swap and release of prisoners was welcomed by American,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-prisoners-in-bid-to-ease-tension-between-the-two-nations/2019/09/07/f5015376-d146-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html|title=Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners in bid to ease tension between the two nations|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=7 September 2019}} French, and German leaders and leaders of international organizations such as NATO,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_168599.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu|last=NATO|date=7 September 2019|website=NATO|access-date=7 September 2019}} OSCE,{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/429335|title=OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes release of Sentsov, Sushchenko and Vyshinsky, thanks both countries for this achievement|last=OSCE|date=7 September 2019|website=OSCE – Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe|access-date=7 September 2019}} and the European Parliament.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/world/europe/russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html|title=Russia and Ukraine Swap Dozens of Prisoners, 'the First Step to Stop the War'|last=Nechepurenko, Karasz|first=Ivan, Palko|date=7 September 2019|website=The New York Times}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-ukraine-exchange-prisoners-in-bid-to-ease-tension-between-the-two-nations/2019/09/07/f5015376-d146-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html|title=Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners in bid to ease tension between the two nations|last=Englund|first=Will|date=7 September 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=7 September 2019}}

Sentsov's film Nomera (The Numbers) was shown at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in 2020. The film was produced while Sentsov was still in prison. During this time he corresponded with his co-director Seitablayev.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/oleg-sentsovs-new-film-premieres-in-berlin-ahead-of-film-festival/a-52432304|title=Oleg Sentsov's new film premieres in Berlin ahead of film festival|last=Mund|first=Heike|date=19 February 2020|website=Deutsche Welle|access-date=5 March 2021}}

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sentsov joined the Territorial Defense Forces of Kyiv, which is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.{{Cite news|url=https://ua.krymr.com/a/news-sentsov-nove-poranennia-viyna/32506648.html|trans-title =Ukrainian director from Crimea Oleg Sentsov announced a new injury after being hospitalized

|title=Український режисер із Криму Олег Сенцов заявив про нове поранення після госпіталізації

|website=Radio Free Europe|date=17 July 2023|accessdate=20 July 2023|language=Ukrainian}} He called on the international film community to boycott Russian cinema.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/oleg-sentsov-ukraine-boycott-russian-cinema/|title=Ukrainian Filmmaker Fighting on Front Lines Calls for Russian Cinema Boycott|last=Welk|first=Brian|date=3 March 2022|website=TheWrap|access-date=17 March 2022}} Sentsov took part in the Battle of Kyiv, using an NLAW to destroy Russian tanks.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/03/14/7331304/

|title=Сенцов розповів, як живеться на передовій: став оператором NLAW

|website=Ukrayinska Pravda|date=14 March 2022|accessdate=19 July 2023|trans-title =Sentsov told how he lives on the front line: he became a NLAW operator |language=Ukrainian}} Sentsov claims he takes part in the war to "return the Ukrainian flag to Crimea."

After the Kyiv offensive failed Sentsov took part in battles at Bakhmut,{{Cite news|url=https://kino.24tv.ua/sentsov-pokazav-foto-bahmuta-tli-zruynovanogo-budinku-pidvali_n2148232|title="Горе та розруха": Сенцов показав, як виглядають підвали та зруйновані будинки в Бахмуті|website=24 Kanal|date=31 August 2022|accessdate=19 July 2023|trans-title ="Woe and devastation": Sentsov showed what basements and destroyed houses look like in Bakhmut|language=Ukrainian}} Balakliia{{Cite news|url=https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/balakliya-miscevi-zhiteli-zustrichayut-zsu-zi-slozami-video-50268793.html|title="Ми пів року молилися, щоб ви до нас повернулись". Як мешканці Балаклії зустрічали ЗСУ — відео|website=NV.ua|date=9 September 2022|accessdate=19 July 2023|trans-title =“We have been praying for six months for you to return to us.” How residents of Balakleya met the Armed Forces of Ukraine - video|language=Ukrainian}} and Kupiansk. As of July 2023, he is an infantry second lieutenant (given this rank in June 2023) in 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade,{{Cite news|url=https://war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/oleg-sentsov-stav-odnim-z-najkraschih-ukrainskih-voiniv.htm|title=Олег Сенцов став одним з найкращих українських воїнів!|website=Obozrevatel|date=13 July 2023|accessdate=19 July 2023|trans-title =Oleh Sentsov became one of the best Ukrainian soldiers!|language=Ukrainian}} fighting on the Zaporizhzhia front during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, where he was lightly wounded during offensive operations.{{Cite web |title=БУТУСОВ ПЛЮС |url=https://t.me/ButusovPlus/3666 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Telegram}}{{Cite news |date=2023-07-10 |title=Сенцов отримав контузію під час ближнього бою на фронті: відео з передової|trans-title =Sentsov received a concussion during close combat at the front: video from the front line|url=https://tsn.ua/ato/sencov-otrimav-kontuziyu-pid-chas-blizhnogo-boyu-na-fronti-video-z-peredovoyi-2366854.html |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=ТСН.ua |language=Ukrainian}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/17/7411639/

|title=Ukrainian director Oleh Sentsov comes under fire on the front

|website=Ukrayinska Pravda|date=17 July 2023|accessdate=19 July 2023|language=English}} On 23 November 2023 Sentsov posted a video on Facebook showing him taking part in the Battle of Avdiivka.{{cite web |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/11/23/7429998/|title=Ukrainian director and serviceman Oleh Sentsov shows video of heavy battle near Avdiivka|date=23 November 2023|access-date=23 November 2023|publisher=Ukrainska Pravda}}

In 2024, Sentsov released Real, a documentary showing a group of Ukrainian soldiers in a trench during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The film is made of a single 90-minute shot that Sentsov recorded by accidentally switching on the GoPro camera attached to his helmet. The film premiered on 30 June 2024 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=KVIFF {{!}} Real |url=https://www.kviff.com/en/programme/film/69/43063-real?lng=1 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.kviff.com |language=}}

As a commander of an assault company (of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade) Sentsov took part in the August 2024 Kursk Oblast incursion.{{Cite news|url=https://glavcom.ua/country/society/oleh-sentsov-vzjav-rosijanina-u-polon-ta-rozpoviv-pro-joho-pershe-prokhannja-1015707.html|trans-title =Oleh Sentsov captured Russians and told about their first request

|title=Олег Сенцов взяв у полон росіянина та розповів про його перше прохання

|website={{ill|Glavcom|uk|glavcom.ua}}|date=16 August 2024|accessdate=27 August 2024|language=Ukrainian}}

; Non-fiction prose

• Купите книгу — она смешная ("Buy the book, it is funny", 2014){{cite web |url=http://litprocess.ru/2014/06/купите-книгу-она-смешная/ |title=Купите книгу – она смешная |author=Олег Сенцов. |website=Литературный журнал «Процесс» |date=11 June 2014 |access-date=24 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408113036/http://litprocess.ru/2014/06/%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%BA%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%83-%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F/ |archive-date=8 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}
• Рассказы ("Tales". Kyiv: Laurus, 2015)
• Life Went on Anyway (2019){{cite book |last1=Sentsov |first1=Oleg |title=Life Went on Anyway |date=2019 |publisher=Deep Vellum |location=Dallas, TX |isbn=978-1-941920-87-9 }}

; Fiction plays

• Номера (Numbers) — playwright.{{cite web

|url = http://www.colta.ru/news/6601

|title = В Киеве пройдет читка пьесы Олега Сенцова

|date = 12 March 2015

|publisher = colta.ru

}}{{cite web

|url = http://ru.krymr.com/content/article/26908801.html

|title = В Киеве провели благотворительное чтение пьесы Олега Сенцова

|date = 19 March 2015

|publisher = Крым. Реалии

}}

During his imprisonment in Russia, Sentsov's two oldest children were raised by his older sister (and his only sibling).{{cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/2465367-ludmila-sencova-mama-rezisera-olega-sencova-intervu-gromadskomu.html|trans-title=Lyudmyla Sentsova, mother of director Oleg Sentsov (interview with Hromadskyi)|title=Людмила Сенцова, мама режисера Олега Сенцова (інтерв'ю Громадському)|date=22 May 2018|publisher=Ukrinform|language=uk|access-date=20 July 2023}} Sentsov divorced his previous wife Alla in 2016. She had filed for divorce when he was captured by Russia in 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://focus.ua/uk/lifestyle/542487-druzhina-olega-sencova-pokazala-sina-shcho-pidris-foto|title=Дружина Олега Сенцова показала сина, що підріс (фото)|website=Focus|date=7 July 2023|accessdate=20 July 2023|trans-title=Oleh Sentsov's wife showed his grown son (photo)|language=Ukrainian}}

In December 2020 Sentsov's second daughter was born, whose mother is journalist Yulia Babich. Sentsov and Babich had already ended their relation when Babich was pregnant and, as of July 2023, she is raising the child without Sentsov's involvement.{{Cite news|url=https://news.obozrevatel.com/ukr/show/people/oleg-sentsov-vdruge-odruzhivsya-foto-narechenih.htm|title=Олег Сенцов вдруге одружився. Фото наречених|website=Obozrevatel|date=7 July 2023|accessdate=20 July 2023|trans-title=Oleg Sentsov married a second time. Photo of the bride and groom|language=Ukrainian}}

On 5 July 2022 Sentsov married Veronika Velch, the senior director at Ridgely Walsh and an activist of {{ill|Euromaidan SOS|uk|Євромайдан SOS}}.

{{cite web|url=https://stars.segodnya.ua/ua/stars/ukrainian/rezhisser-oleg-sencov-zhenilsya-kto-izbrannica-rezhissera-foto-1629122.html|script-title=uk:Режисер Олег Сенцов одружився. Хто обраниця режисера? (Фото)|date=5 July 2022|publisher=Segodnya|language=uk|access-date=2 August 2022}}{{Cite web|title=Veronika Velch - Ridgely{{!}}Walsh|url=https://www.ridgelywalsh.com/team/veronika-velch/|access-date=2 August 2022|website=Ridgely{{!}}Walsh|language=en}} Velch gave birth to Sentsov's fourth child (and Velch second child) and his second son in December 2022.

• Order for Courage, first class (24 September 2015) – for personal courage and dedication shown in defending the constitutional rights and freedoms of man, the integrity of the Ukrainian state{{Cite web|title=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/|access-date=9 November 2020|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|language=uk}}
• Order for Courage, third class (23 August 2014).Decree of the President of Ukraine from 23 серпня 2014 year № 676/2014 [https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/676/2014 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України з нагоди Дня Незалежності України»] {{in lang|uk}}
• Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine 2016 for Gamer and Rhino (presented in person in 2019){{Cite web|title=Sentsov got his National T. Shevchenko Prize, awarded in 2016|url=https://imi.org.ua/en/news/sentsov-got-his-national-t-shevchenko-prize-awarded-in-2016-i29685|access-date=9 November 2020|website=imi.org.ua|language=en}}
• The Sakharov Award for Courage{{Cite web|title=Oleg Sentsov and two other Kremlin hostages receive Sakharov Award for Courage|url=http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1517437577}}{{Cite news|title=Imprisoned Ukrainian Film Director Oleh Sentsov Wins Sakharov Prize|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/imprisoned-ukrainian-film-director-oleh-sentsov-awarded-2018-sakharov-prize/29563243.html|access-date=9 November 2020|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=25 October 2018 |language=en}}
• European Memory and Conscience Platform Award (14 November 2018){{Cite web|title=Oleg Sentsov was awarded with the Platform of European Memory and Conscience Prize|url=https://holodomormuseum.org.ua/en/news-museji/oleg-sentsov-was-awarded-with-the-platform-of-european-memory-and-conscience-prize/|access-date=9 November 2020|website=Національний музей Голодомору-геноциду|language=en}}
• Serhiy Magnitsky International Prize for Investigative Journalism and Human Rights in the World (16 November 2018; presented in person on 14 November 2019){{Cite web|title=Imprisoned Ukrainian Director Oleg Sentsov Awarded Human Rights Prize {{!}} Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imprisoned-ukrainian-director-oleg-sentsov-awarded-human-rights-prize-1161932|access-date=9 November 2020|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=16 November 2018 }}
• Pro Dignitate Humana Award (23 October 2018){{Cite news|title=У Польщі Сенцову присудили нагороду Pro Dignitate Humana|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-sentsov-award-poland/29559572.html|access-date=9 November 2020|website=Радіо Свобода|date=23 October 2018 |language=uk |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}
• Neptune Award of the Solidarity of Arts Festival in Gdańsk (23 August 2019){{Cite web|date=24 August 2019|title=Opinion {{!}} Sentsov received Neptune Prize at the Solidarity of Arts festival in Poland|url=https://opinionua.com/en/2019/08/24/sentsov-received-neptune-prize-at-the-solidarity-of-arts-festival-in-poland/|access-date=9 November 2020|website=Opinion|language=en-US}}
• Stanisław Vincenz City Award in Kraków (2020){{Cite web|title=Oleg Sencow laureatem nagrody im. Stanisława Vincenza|url=https://www.krakow.pl/get_pdf.php?dok_id=244037}}
• Legion of Honour, the highest French order of merit (presented in person on 14 July 2023 at Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv)

• Iryna Dovhan
• Eston Kohver
• Nadiya Savchenko

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist|33em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1527519105List: Russia is holding over 70 Ukrainian Political Prisoners of War ]
• [http://memohrc.org/ru/bulletins/list-individuals-recognized-political-prisoners-human-rights-centre-memorial-and-0 List of Individuals Recognized as Political Prisoners by the Human Rights Centre Memorial and Persecuted in connection with the Realization of their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 29 October 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712075645/https://memohrc.org/ru/bulletins/list-individuals-recognized-political-prisoners-human-rights-centre-memorial-and-0 |date=12 July 2019 }}
• {{YouTube|id=k5VxDhQlC7U|title=From Crimea to Siberia: How Russia is Tormenting Political Prisoners Sentsov and Kolchenko}}, a documentary by Hromadske.TV

{{Sakharov Prize}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sentsov, Oleg}}

Category:Living people

Category:1976 births

Category:People from Simferopol

Category:Kyiv National Economic University alumni

Category:Ukrainian film directors

Category:People of the Euromaidan

Category:Pro-Ukrainian people of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

Category:People of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Category:Ukrainian exiles of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Category:2014 controversies

Category:Prisoners and detainees of Russia

Category:Ukrainian people imprisoned abroad

Category:Ukrainian people taken hostage

Category:People convicted on terrorism charges

Category:Ukrainian victims of human rights abuses

Category:Ukrainian torture victims

Category:Ukrainian hunger strikers

Category:Sakharov Prize laureates

Category:Political prisoners according to Memorial

Category:Ukrainian people of Russian descent

Category:Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine personnel

Category:Ukrainian military personnel of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour

Category:Political prisoners in Ukraine

Category:Torture in the Russo-Ukrainian War