About 50 Ukrainian cultural figures and public figures have asked the imprisoned Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov to stop the hunger strike he has been holding since May 14, demanding the release of all Ukrainians illegally detained in Russia.

"There was an experience in Ukrainian society: do we have the right to ask you to stop a hunger strike? We were very worried. We did not dare to turn to you. On the one hand, we are one with you and support your demands. On the other, we fear for your life. All people of goodwill both abroad and in Ukraine support your demands for the release of Ukrainians held illegally," the letter says.

"We ask you on behalf of all of us, on behalf of all who value life and will above all, with reverence and with love for you ... we ask you to stop the hunger strike," the letter says.

Andriy Kurkov, Serhiy Zhadan, Yuriy Andrukhovych, Oleksandr Roitburd and Taras Wozniak are among the 50 signatories to the letter.

Sentsov on May 14, 2018 went on a hunger strike demanding that all Ukrainians held illegally in Russia be released.

As earlier reported, in August 2015, the North Caucasus District Military Court sentenced Sentsov, who was detained in Crimea in 2014, to 20 years in a high-security penitentiary.

Sentsov is held in the Russian colony Bely Medved beyond the polar circle in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. He went on hunger strike on May 14,2018, demanding that all Ukrainians held in Russia be released.