Key facts
- Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev has returned to Ukraine.
- Puryshev traveled to Moscow in August after alleging FSB blackmail.
- He claimed the FSB threatened his son in Russia if he did not cooperate.
- Puryshev announced his return on Instagram on September 2.
- He stated he is alive and has completed all official procedures.
Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev, known for his work during the siege of Mariupol, has returned to Ukraine after a trip to Moscow. Puryshev had stated in August that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) blackmailed him, threatening to conscript his son living in Russia if he refused to cooperate and provide information about Ukrainian military positions.
Puryshev announced his safe return on Instagram on September 2, writing, "I am in Ukraine. I am home." He expressed gratitude for the support he received, stating, "With your support, you can return even from a place that seems impossible to return from." He added that he had completed all official procedures and was alive.
However, Puryshev indicated that he could not yet share all the details of his trip, acknowledging that many questions remained unanswered. He mentioned that he does not know when he will be able to disclose more information but plans to eventually return to his volunteer activities.
Puryshev, who has four children, two of whom live in Russia, became known for driving into Mariupol to evacuate civilians during the siege in spring 2022. He had flown to Moscow on August 17, stating it was "for the sake of my son," and had ceased public communication until August 19, when he released a video stating he was safe and no longer in Russia.