Captured

Stories

“You’ll die here. But you have a choice”: a freed Azov fighter recounts how they tried to recruit him to fight against Ukraine.

"A Year in My Second Captivity Was Harder Than Three Years in the First": Azov Fighters Who Endured Russian Captivity Twice

"They Beat Me for Every Ukrainian Word": The Story of Serhii Marchuk, a Soldier from Zhytomyr Region Released from Russian Captivity

“We uncovered about 800 bodies,” — a serviceman recounted how the Russians forced prisoners to exhume civilian bodies in Mariupol

36-Year-Old Soldier Serhii Shykun Returns Home to His Community in Zhytomyr Region from Russian Captivity

"I Became Human Again": 200 Ukrainian Service Members Return Home from Russian Captivity

Tortured into confession of a murder. How the Russian Investigative Committee fabricated the case of prisoner of war from 108th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion

Who branded “Glory to Russia” on a Ukrainian prisoner’s stomach? (investigation)

"I Couldn't Endure the Final 12-Hour Interrogation While I Was Bedridden": The Story of Azov Fighter Rasti

"He died because he was bleeding out”: Russians tortured a 59-year-old serviceman in captivity and tried to hide the cause of death

He Saw His Beloved One Last Time Before Dying from Torture: The Story of Former POW Valerii Zelenskyi

From Maternity Leave to “Terrorist”: How a Russian Court Convicted Aidar Servicewoman Viktoriia Tkachenko for Serving in the Battalion

Forced confessions, sentenced to life in Russia, and released from captivity: the story of an Azov fighter

The horrors of Russian captivity: the story of Snake Island defender Vladyslav Zadorin

Captured at 19: The Story of Hlib Shumyl, Who Spent Three Years in Russian Torture Chambers

Archipelago of Torture, or How Russians Abuse Ukrainian Prisoners. Testimonies

"They Shocked Me Near My Heart": An "Edelweiss" Fighter on More Than Two Years in Russian Captivity

AFTER CAPTIVITY | Rehabilitation and Returning to Military Service

“Captivity is a minor thing — the worst was watching Mariupol die”: the story of Azovstal defender Hennadii Zbandut

“Someone Like You Doesn’t Need a Lawyer.” Former Aidar POW Maryna Mishchenko on Olenivka, the Donetsk Pretrial Detention Center, and a Russian Court

Sviatoslav “Kalyna” Palamar on the Pokrovsk direction, the siege and exit from Azovstal, Olenivka, Lefortovo, and his time in Turkey

Freed POW Volodymyr Trush on Execution Threats, Betrayal in Captivity, and His Determination to Keep Fighting

“Forced them to perform oral sex”: Russian perpetrators who abused prisoners have been identified

Russian Captivity, Combat Missions, and the Death of His Wife: The Story of Former POW ‘Khamzat’

While I Was in Captivity, All I Wanted Was to Fall Asleep and Never Wake Up

Released from captivity, Maksym Butkevych: “I saw what the ‘Russian world’ is like from the inside… It’s a real Mordor in terms of values and freedom.”

‘If You Don’t Tell Me Everything, I’ll Rape Your Sister-in-Arms’: Marine on Brutal Torture of Women in Russian Prisons

Izium, a hand with bracelets, Serhii Sova. The story of one photo and the life of a Hero of Ukraine executed by the Russians

Captivity, Torture, and the Birth of His Son: The Story of Snake Island Defender Oleksandr Kurtiev

30 Months in Russian Captivity: War, Torture, a Blog, and a Book About Prisoner Life. The Story of a Former POW

"I Can't Feel Joy the Way I Used To": A Vinnytsia Native on Three Years in Russian Captivity and Life After Returning

ATO, “Azov,” 11.5 months in captivity, and a return to service: the story of combat medic from Uzhhorod, Halyna Zaitseva

“People Were Beaten with Tasers”: Who Is Torturing Azov Fighters in Captivity

The Marines Who Defended Mariupol Have Been Behind Bars for 1,000 Days. Their Families Continue the Fight for Their Freedom

‘Doctor Evil.’ The doctor who tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war in one of the most secretive colonies in Mordovia (investigation)

20 Months in Russian Captivity: The Story of Mariupol Defender Oleksandr "Demon"

"There Were Beatings, Electric Torture, Strangulation, and Starvation": How a Chernihiv Resident Is Adapting After Russian Captivity

“Mom, thank you for saving Dad”: the story of a marine’s family who now believe in a New Year’s miracle

Released from captivity, Uzhhorod resident Robert Baloh: “In the cell, I set myself one goal — to preserve myself as much as possible.”

“I’m walking, blood flooding my boots”: how an Azov fighter survived captivity three times

“They came again and beat my leg”: a 23-year-old azov fighter on more than three years in russian captivity

Mariupol Resident Dmytro Katsy Has Spent 1,000 Days in Russian Captivity. His Family Still Doesn't Know Where He Is Being Held

Returned to Service Five Days After Being Released from Captivity

"Don't Forget About Us." Azov Fighter "Leks," Sentenced to 22 Years, Addresses Ukrainians from Captivity

Former Russian POW Petro Nedokhodiuk on Memory Loss, Punishment for Prayer, and the Hardest Day of His Captivity

“Kh*khly, we’re already tired of beating you.” Azov fighter ‘Yuzhnyi’ on two years of torture in Taganrog, prisoners’ humor, and his own survival system.

"The guys were burning, screaming, someone was torn in half." the Olenivka terror attack and life after it in the memories of azov fighters

“His back is covered with scars, they beat him to death,” — a border guard captured by a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group.

I Want to Give Other Veterans Hope That There Is Life After Captivity

Beatings, Psychiatric Abuse, and Electric Shocks to the Genitals: Three Years of Captivity for Marine Valentyn Polianskyi

“I dream of living to see my grandson’s exchange.” The story of an Azov fighter’s family who have been waiting for him to return from captivity for three years

“Someone Must Always Be There to Help Her”: Russia Continues to Imprison Seriously Ill Aidar Veteran Kateryna Kuzmenko

Between Torture and Prayer: The Three-Year Captivity of Azovstal’s Only Chaplain

“They burned out tattoos with the names of children”: a naval serviceman on 39 months in Russian captivity

"I Begged the Russians to Kill Me": The Story of a Servicewoman Who Survived Russian Captivity

"There Was a Lot of Abuse": A Former POW on What He Endured in Russian Captivity

“He Stood Firm and Defended His Rights”: Azov POW Who Refused to Admit He Was a Terrorist in a Russian Court Disappeared After the Verdict

Volodymyr Mytiun Is Awaited by His Family and Beloved. The Mariupol Defender and Prisoner of War Will Stand Trial in Russia

"I Have Stage IV Cancer, and My Husband Has Been in Captivity for Two Years. Tell Me, Will We Ever See Each Other Again?"

"There were 20% of prison guards loyal to us in captivity": An interview with a soldier of the Third Assault Brigade, Maksym Levchenko

A Dream of Seeing Her Son Meet His Father Kept Him Going: Border Guard Oleksii Turbal Returns Home to Zhytomyr Region from Russian Captivity

“I miss his fried potatoes and the word ‘kitty’”: 5 stories about couples separated by captivity

My "Einar" Defended His Hometown of Mariupol. I've Been Counting Every Day While Waiting for My Beloved to Return from Captivity — It's Been 650 Days

‘No Prisoners Taken’: Russians Ordered to Execute Ukrainian Prisoners of War

"I Spent Two Christmases in Captivity. There, Hope Is All You Have. In Prison, There Is Only the Cold of the Walls and Loneliness."

“See you soon” and a life sentence: what it’s like to wait for a loved one from Siberia in the 21st century

Five-Year-Old Artem Nechaiev Is Waiting for His Father to Return from Captivity. His Mother Has Cancer, and His Aunt Is Caring for Him

“Even darker horrors unfold in the torture chambers”: Azovstal defender “Nava” releases a book about captivity

“I’m a Soldier. I Was Carrying Out the Orders of the Ukrainian State.” Azov Fighter Sentenced to 20 Years in Russia Refused to Admit Guilt Despite Torture

Matvii Has Never Seen His Father, but He Is Waiting for Him. Mariupol Defender Vlad Fedosieiev Has Been in Captivity for Three Years

For Azov, "Vitold" Took a Risk. Vitalii Slobodeniuk Thought He Wouldn't Survive Azovstal

A son and brother ‘reunited’ thanks to a YouTube video: how Russia hides Azov prisoners from the world

An Inspiring Love Story: A Border Guard Couple Who Survived Captivity Is Together Again

He escaped captivity twice, but failed the third time. The story of a Mariupol defender who finally returned home

“Putin’s Version of Ukrainian History Was Left on Me as a Scar on My Shoulder.” Maksym Butkevych on Captivity, a Sham Trial, and His Release

"Bielia" Saved His Friend's Life Under Enemy Tank Fire. His Beloved and Fellow Soldiers Are Waiting for Him to Return from Captivity

21 Months in Enemy Captivity: A Border Guard Who Endured It All

“I remember the smell of burnt bodies and the glass wool falling on my skin like a thousand needles.” The story of Azov fighter “Kraft” who survived the Olenivka attack

"Every Transfer Was Abuse": Former POW Oleksandr Ivanov Recalls His Captivity While Recovering in Poltava

Captured on the Same Day as His Son: The Story of Border Guard Andrii Stepanov from Bukovyna

Flew into Besieged Mariupol and Spent Two Years in Captivity: The Story of HUR Fighter "Barrett" from Chernivtsi

For 26 Months in Captivity, We Didn't Make Plans — We Dreamed. "Umpa" Proposed to His Beloved Immediately After His Release

"We Got Married at Azovstal. Instead of a Wedding Ring, I Gave Her a Ring Made from a Grenade That Burned a Russian Tank."

More Than Two Years in Russian Captivity: The Story of Soldier Serhii Boichuk

Volodymyr Mytiun Is Awaited by His Family and Beloved. The Mariupol Defender and Prisoner of War Will Stand Trial in Russia

Russia Is Putting Her Beloved on Trial Simply for Being Ukrainian. Kostiantyn Zinovkin Left Home a Year Ago and Never Returned

How to Survive, Save Fellow Soldiers in Prison, and Not Break: A Military Doctor from Zhytomyr on His Time in Captivity

After captivity — without arms and legs. A Ukrainian soldier learns to live and dreams of driving again

We were given three books. One of them always had to be written by Lenin”: Azov fighter Yaroslav on Mariupol, captivity, and freedom

"We Were Held by Beasts, Not Humans": The Story of Military Medic Yurii Armash, Who Returned from Russian Captivity

“They don’t consider you a human being”: stories of women who survived Russian captivity.

"My Son Has Been Given a Life Sentence." The Self-Proclaimed "DPR" Sentenced Captured Azov Fighter Maksym Kondrashev to Life Imprisonment

Defender of Mariupol and Witness to the Olenivka Massacre: An Interview with an Azov Officer

“Not forgetting is not enough. I ask you to speak”: a wife’s story of an Azov fighter who survived the Olenivka attack.

Maryana Mamonova on Azovmash, Pregnancy in Captivity, and Interrogations by Russian Soldiers

The Trial of Separation: The Story of Kateryna Skopina, Who Survived Captivity

"The Lesson I Paid For": Mykhailo Vershynin on War and Captivity

Olha Naiman Dreams of Introducing Her Beloved to Their Son. Andrii, a Military Medic, Has Spent More Than 500 Days in Captivity

The first exchange of women: what happened to Ukrainian servicewomen in Russian captivity.

"I Was in the Hell of Olenivka": A POW Who Survived the Olenivka Attack Reveals New Details

"While in Captivity, I Hoped People Were Talking About Me": Nava Urges the Public to Fight for the Release of Ukraine's Defenders

A Marine from Zmiinyi: captivity, interrogations about the “Russian warship,” and Bandera

“I Cannot Do Otherwise”: the Life of a Ukrainian Soldier Before His Execution in Captivity

"Azov" and "Azovstal, captivity, Olenivka, torture in a detention center, the exchange, and the first tiramisu in freedom — Svitlana Vorova (call sign ‘Hrazia’) speaks in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda about 11 months of Russian captivity.

Freed POW Alla Senchenko from Lutsk on Her Experience, Survival, and Ukraine's Future Victory

“Now I will live for two”: the love story of Valeriia and Andrii, who married in a bunker at Azovstal

“I sometimes think of Oleksiy, ill and captive. Hope lingers, faint but alive.” — Remembering the Azov Soldiers Lost in Olenivka

“In that hell, she said goodbye to life more than once.” The story of a woman who returned from Russian captivity

Azov fighter ‘Vyshnia’ returned from captivity speaks about interrogations and threats over the Ukrainian language

"I Begged Them to Shoot Him So He Wouldn't Suffer": The Story of a Ukrainian Soldier Who Survived Captivity in Crimea

Quietly Singing Ukraine's National Anthem and Daily Prayers: Mariupol Military Hospital Medic Kateryna Skopina on What Helped Her Endure Nearly Nine Months in Captivity

An Azov Regiment fighter on suicides within the walls of Azovstal and death penalty threats in captivity by the occupiers

Life After Russian Captivity: The Story of a Freed Military Medic

189 days of captivity of a military medic and what came before and after. The story of Olena Kryvtsova

Tork from the Azov Regiment on captivity: ‘They went berserk over the map of Ukraine on my chest

They Beat Me and Forced Me to Sing Their Anthem": The Story of Former POW Anastasiia Zaudalska

Declared missing, but held captive: the story of a 19-year-old marine defending Mariupol

She returned in her ninth month of pregnancy: the story of a medic released from Russian captivity

"No replies to my messages": a love story torn apart by occupation and captivity

Doctor Hrabovskyi: The story of a medic from ‘Azovstal’ who is held in Russian captivity