TWO jailed Ukrainian communists have been pictured handcuffed but alive as they face charges of attempting to overthrow the government and seize state power. 

Alexander and Mikhail Kononovich were detained on March 3 following the Russian invasion, part of a crackdown on left and opposition groups.

Mikhail Kononovich is the leader of the youth wing of the outlawed Communist Party of Ukraine (KPU) and both were active in the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), a global organisation of progressive youth groups.