Oleh Sentsov
Oleh Hennadiiovych Sentsov (Ukrainian: Олег Геннадійович Сенцов, Russian: Олег Геннадьевич Сенцов, romanized: Oleg Gennadyevich Sentsov; born 13 July 1976) is a Ukrainian filmmaker, writer and activist from Crimea. Sentsov has directed the feature films Gamer (2011), Numbers (2019, co-directed with Akhtem Seitablayev), and Rhino (2021).
Oleh Sentsov | |
|---|---|
Олег Сенцов | |
Sentsov in 2019 | |
| Born | 13 July 1976 Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
| Service/ | Territorial Defense Forces 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade |
| Years of service | 2022–present |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | |
| Alma mater | Kyiv National Economic University |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Spouse |
Veronika Velch (m. 2022) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Legion of Honour Order for Courage 1st class Order for Courage 3d class Taras Shevchenko National Prize |
Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, he was arrested in Crimea in May 2014 and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by a Russian court in August 2015 on charges of plotting terrorism. The conviction was described as fabricated by Amnesty International and others. He was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize in 2018. On 7 September 2019, he was released in a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sentsov joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has been taking part in the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, Battle of Avdiivka and other battles of the war.