Vladyslav is a journalist who contributed to Crimea.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service. His arrest is part of the campaign against non-state journalism. Yesypenko's example also seems designed to intimidate all those who disagree with the occupation and annexation of Crimea, and to discourage Ukrainian journalists from working in the peninsula. Vladyslav has been recognized for his courageous and incisive journalism.

His wife Yekaterina and minor daughter Stefania are in Kryvyi Rih awaiting Vladyslav's release. Since the age of seven, the girl, together with her mother, has been involved in human rights activities, going to public rallies in support of her father to tell the world about him.

Vladyslav Yesypenko was detained by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in Simferopol on March 10, 2021, on suspicion of collecting information for Ukrainian intelligence. Vladyslav left Crimea for mainland Ukraine with his family following the 2014 Russian annexation, returning periodically to report for RFE/RL on the social and environmental situation of the peninsula. For almost a month, independent lawyers were not allowed to visit Vladyslav Yesypenko. And the appointed lawyer "did not notice" the signs of torture on him and did not react to the statements about it.

On July 15, 2021, Vladyslav was charged with “possession and transport of explosives,” a charge he steadfastly denies. On February 16, 2022, a Russian judge in occupied Crimea sentenced him to six years in prison in a closed-door trial. Prosecutors have since admitted that a grenade “found” in Vladyslav’s vehicle did not have his fingerprints on it. On August 18, 2022, the Moscow-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea shortened his prison term to five years.

During his trial, Vladyslav said he was tortured with electric shocks to extract a false confession.