MOGADISHU, Somalia — December 15, 2025 — The militant group Al-Shabaab has released a new video showing Oleynik Aleksandr, a Ukrainian national and helicopter pilot contracted by the United Nations, who has been held in captivity since early 2024 after his aircraft made an emergency landing in central Somalia.
Aleksandr was the captain of a helicopter operating under the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) when it was forced to land in January 2024 due to technical difficulties while en route to Wisil, near Ceelbuur. The aircraft landed in territory controlled by Al-Shabaab, leading to the capture of the pilot and other crew members. UNSOS provides aviation and logistical support to the African Union mission, the Federal Government of Somalia, and UN agencies across the country.
In the newly released footage, distributed by Al-Shabaab’s Kataib media wing, Aleksandr appeals directly to the Ukrainian government and the United Nations, calling for negotiations to secure his release and that of the remaining crew. He recounts the circumstances of the incident and emphasizes that he was carrying out official UN duties at the time of his capture.
“Please use your influence to start negotiations for our release,” he said, adding that the mission was conducted under the UN flag and mandate. He also appealed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urging the organization to take responsibility for contractors kidnapped while supporting peace and stabilization efforts in Somalia.
Aleksandr described himself as a “prisoner of war” and said he had previously flown medical evacuation and support missions linked to Somalia’s military campaign against Al-Shabaab between 2022 and early 2024. His message marks one of the most public appeals by a foreign captive held by the group in recent years.
As of Monday, neither the United Nations nor the Ukrainian government has issued a public response to the video or confirmed whether negotiations are underway. Al-Shabaab has a history of exploiting forced landings and captured personnel for propaganda and leverage amid its long-running insurgency against Somalia’s federal government.
