Captured

Stories

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

“Urinate so we know when you die”: Testimonies of torture at the Borisoglebsk penal colony and a returned body.

“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

"My Father Is Slowly Dying." Ihor Kirianenko Has Spent Six Years in Captivity with Shrapnel Still in His Body After Being Abducted in Donetsk

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

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

“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

“‘They Used Pliers or Some Kind of Medieval Finger Cutters’: A Ukrainian Man Recounts More Than a Year in Russian Captivity”

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

“In captivity, they asked why we had jumped on the Maidan. I was only 12 then.” The story of Mariupol defender Dmytro “Boomer,” who has fought with Azov since the age of 18, returned to the unit after captivity, and rose from soldier to lieutenant.

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

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

Survived captivity and spoke out: what Russian forces do to prisoners of war.

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

“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

‘I Went to a Psychologist and Realized I Wouldn’t Make It, I Wouldn’t Survive’: A Ukrainian Man Recounts the Sexual Violence He Experienced in Russian Captivity

The New York Times Exposes a Network of Officials Who Deported Children from Kherson

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

“He saved a piece of bread and didn’t eat it himself — he shared it with his cellmates.” In memory of Oleksandr Hrytsiuk, who died in captivity.

Putin’s iconostasis, letters to the “heroes of the SMO,” and lectures on “reunification.” How the occupiers are reshaping children’s consciousness and using knowledge as a weapon

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

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

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

“They Performed Surgeries in Basements Under Shelling.” How and Why Russia Persecutes, Attacks, and Captures Ukrainian Medics in Violation of International Law

“‘What, Bastards, Have You Had Your Fill of Ukrainian Land?!’ Through Belarus and Crimea Back to Mykulychi: The Story of a Civilian Tractor Driver from the Kyiv Region Who Was Held Captive”

In Memoriam: Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, Who Knew Everything Except Indifference

“Russia Is a Big Prison” — Head of Institute of National Remembrance on Systematic Use of Sexual Violence Against Ukrainian Men

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

“He took the horrors of Bucha very hard.” The story of Crimean resident Bohdan Ziza, sentenced by Russia for “terrorism.”

The Abduction of Ukrainian Civilians — A Russian War Crime the World Knows Little About

"I Thought I Wouldn't Survive": Police Officer Tortured by Russian Forces

Her Battle for Mariupol: Yuliia Horoshanska Fought in the ATO, Endured Azovstal, Captivity and the Olenivka Terrorist Attack — and Now Has to Prove in Court That She Defended Her Hometown

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

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

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

The real Sentsov. The story of a director and assault soldier with thick skin

“‘We Needed a Lot of Coffins. They Were All Going to Rostov’: A Border Guard from Azovstal on Two Years in Russian Captivity”

"They Beat Me Day and Night": Teacher Taken to a Detention Center

“Only those who died have earned the right to rest. Everyone else must work for Victory.” The story of Azov soldier Vlad Zhaivoronok, who miraculously survived captivity after being wounded at Azovstal.

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

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

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

“‘We Were Accused of Carrying Out Operations to Castrate Russians’ — A Medic from Azovstal on Nearly Two Years in Captivity”

Tortured Over a Telegram Comment

"I Wrote a Farewell Letter to My Parents": A Witness to Torture

“Every morning in prison, I recited the Ukrainian national anthem and ‘Song of the Towel.’ Azovstal defender Artem Dubyna survived a severe injury, returned from captivity, and is determined to keep moving forward.

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

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

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

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

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

A Bird in the Sky. The Story of Svitlana Vorova, a Woman from Odesa and Defender of Azovstal, Who Returned from Captivity to Continue the Work of Her Son, Who Was Killed in the War — Defending Ukraine in the Azov Brigade

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

“Tomorrow I’m leaving for Donetsk region. So give birth to our son today.” In memory of marine soldier Yevhenii Hladii, who was killed in captivity.

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

Betrayed for His Love of Ukraine: Russian Occupiers Sentenced Donetsk Surgeon Ihor Nazarenko to 11 Years in Prison

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

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

The Russians killed with brutal savagery

Rape, Electric Shocks to the Genitals, and Threats of Castration: What Four Ukrainian Men Endured During the Russian Occupation