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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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’

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.

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

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

“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

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

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

“I consider this a God-pleasing cause.” The story of a chaplain and IT specialist from Luhansk who became an FPV drone operator.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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