Olga Naiman dreams of introducing her boyfriend to her son. Andriy is a military medic who has spent more than 500 days in captivity.
Source: Svoi.City
Author: Hanna KURTSANOVSKA
People who have come to the rally from various cities across the country want to hear what this government agency has done to save their loved ones. After all, according to the Geneva Convention, medical personnel are not combatants; they must not be taken prisoner and are not to be used as bargaining chips.
“Unfortunately, in today’s world, mere words are not enough; to prove Russia’s crimes, we need evidence. Evidence that is properly collected, documented in accordance with the law, and submitted to international institutions. Only in this way can we hold Russian criminals accountable,” said Svitlana Bohdanenko, one of the activists with the civil society organization “Military Medics of Ukraine,
” at the rally.
According to her, their organization has collected and submitted to more than 40 embassies around the world documentary evidence of Russia’s capture and detention of Ukrainian military medics. These documents were submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a call to help publicize Russia’s crimes through official diplomatic channels.
“The world must know the truth about Russia’s crimes!” said Svitlana Bohdanenko.
They studied together and got married in Mariupol
Along with Andriy Naiman, his colleagues who remained in Mariupol to save the lives of military personnel and civilians are also being held captive. They were later taken prisoner from “Azovstal.” All this time, Olga has been doing everything she can to secure the release of her beloved, whom she married in October 2021.
Whenever possible, Olga Naiman attends all rallies in Lviv in support of prisoners from all units that fought for Mariupol against the occupiers. In June of this year, she traveled to a similar event in Kyiv with her son. This time, she is in the capital without Yaroslav. Olga says that her family and friends are helping her fight for Andriy’s release so that he can be freed from the enemy’s prison sooner.
Ever since childhood, Andriy had decided for himself what he would become in the future and was confidently working toward that goal. After graduating from high school in Kyiv, when it was time to choose a university, he chose the Bogomolets National Medical University without hesitation: until 2016, he studied at the faculty that trains doctors for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For the next two years, he continued his studies at the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy.
“Andriy was always proud of his title as a doctor; he never questioned his choice,” Olga noted.
It was at the academy that Andriy and Olga met; both were studying at the Faculty of Military Medicine, majoring in “Internal Medicine.” Starting in 2018, Andriy Naiman served in Mariupol. When the 555th Garrison Hospital was established at the 61st Mobile Hospital base, he headed the neurology department. He provided medical care to both military personnel and civilians.
“After our assignments in June 2018, I served in Pokrovsk, while he served in Mariupol. It seems like the distance between the cities isn’t that great, but when both of you are in the military—and in the Joint Forces Operation zone, no less—the only chance to see each other is during leave. As it turned out, 2021 was the best year for us—my contract had ended by then, we got married, I was pregnant, and we had the chance to be together all the time in Mariupol. But it didn’t last very long—about half a year. We had to sort out some paperwork. “On February 20, 2022, I still had the chance to leave a peaceful Mariupol—which was still part of Ukraine at the time,” Olga recalls.
At Azovstal, he saw a short video and photos of his newborn son
On February 24, when the full-scale war began, Andriy was at the hospital. On the very first day, he realized the conditions under which he would have to work. The head of the neurology department didn’t even consider the options of fleeing or breaking his oath. Olga recalls that her husband tried to get in touch whenever possible; not once did he tell his beloved how difficult it was to work while shells flew overhead and bombs fell nearby.
Andriy Naiman was always proud to be a doctor; he was proud to save what is most precious—people’s
lives
“When we had a connection, he’d send short messages: ‘I’m alive,’ ‘We’re working,’ or ‘+’. Because he knew how important that was to me. But over time, as we know, communication became increasingly difficult, so one of his colleagues would sometimes call or text me. And that was enough, because from various sources I understood the conditions they were facing. You know, even before March 1, I was hoping—and trying to convince others—that they would be pulled back from the front lines. But when the city was completely surrounded, I realized that it was dangerous for them as well. “Well, and they couldn’t leave that many wounded people in the city,” says the wife of the captured medic.
On March 16, an airstrike destroyed the last wing of the hospital, which had been operating until that very day. The entire medical staff, along with the wounded, split into two groups. Andriy Naiman, as part of one of the groups, joined the Ukrainian military at “Azovstal,” while the other group relocated to the Illich Steel Plant. Olga learned that her husband and some of his colleagues from the hospital were at the Azovstal steel plant from a video on a Telegram channel published by the press service of what was then still the Azov Regiment.
“Andriy didn’t say much about the horrors that were actually unfolding in Mariupol. He kept saying there was a lot of work to do, but there wasn’t enough medicine or proper conditions to provide care. He constantly reassured me, telling me not to watch the news, because I was already in my last month of pregnancy at the time. Our son Yaroslav was born on April 19, 2022. At that time, Andriy was still able to post photos on social media. So he saw the short videos and photos of our newborn son. By the way, it was Andriy who chose our son’s name as soon as we found out about the pregnancy and that we were expecting a boy,” recalls Olga.
I don’t know
where my beloved is now or how he’s doing health-wise Until May 18, 2022, amid constant airstrikes, artillery shelling, and assaults on the plant—in inhumane conditions at a makeshift hospital alongside his colleagues—Andriy Naiman provided medical care to the wounded. They were targeted from the sea, the air, and the ground, yet they continued to do more than seemed possible.
Then came the command’s order to evacuate “Azovstal.” On May 16, the first defenders of Mariupol left the steel plant. Two days later, Andriy got in touch with his wife. Olga then asked her husband if he knew they were being taken to the territory of the so-called “DPR.” Andriy remained silent. Then he sent a message: “Anything is possible.”
And on the morning of May 19, Olga saw another video of our servicemen leaving the plant grounds, in which, in the final seconds, her husband gets on a bus. Since then, Andriy has been in Olenivka, periodically getting in touch or sending word through others that he was fine and alive.
In the video, Olga saw her beloved Andriy; he, along with other defenders and medics, was being taken into enemy captivity
on orders
“Like other families, the tragedy at the Olenivka colony was extremely difficult to bear. When you can’t fathom that something like this is possible in our time—that it was done on purpose—you watch all the news, pray, and wait for a miracle. Sometime after lunch on July 29, he called me himself and said, ‘I’m alive.’ You can’t imagine how relieved I felt at that moment,” she shared.
In Olenivka, the head of the neurology department at Mariupol Hospital No. 555 remained there until October 2022; after that, his family learned of his whereabouts from released medical workers or military personnel.
“They told me where Andriy was at the time of their release. That’s all the information I have. I’m grateful to those who were released—who found me themselves through Telegram search channels or through mutual acquaintances—and tried to tell me about Andriy and the conditions of his captivity. Those calls or messages from them are like a breath of fresh air to me. Unfortunately, there haven’t been any prisoner exchanges for a long time—the last one was on May 6. So I don’t know how Andriy is doing right now, what condition he’s in, or whether he’s still in the same place where he’s been all this time.
You know, every morning I wake up hoping that today will be the day. But by evening, you realize that my beloved has spent yet another day there, and the future remains uncertain once again. I believe that day will finally come soon. After all, we have so much to look forward to, and most importantly—meeting my son.
"
Medical personnel in captivity—a violation of the Geneva Conventions
The families of the medical personnel who were taken captive have joined together in the civic organization “Military Medics of Ukraine” with a common goal — to draw the attention of international organizations to the Russian Federation’s failure to comply with the Geneva Conventions and to emphasize the need for the release of non-combatants. Currently, more than 500 medical personnel who helped and saved military personnel and civilians are being held captive by Russia.
The families of the captive medical personnel are appealing to all authorities to secure their return
Their families are appealing to all authorities and organizing protests to draw the world’s attention to the fact that Russia’s holding of medical workers hostage constitutes a direct violation of international humanitarian law.
On July 27, in honor of Medical Workers’ Day, the Center for Civil Liberties, together with the nonprofit organization “Military Medics of Ukraine,” launched an information and advocacy campaign aimed at ensuring the rights of medical personnel held captive as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war. They continue to urge international medical institutions and organizations to increase pressure on Russia to secure the return of those who saved lives.
Author: Hanna KURTSANOVSKA
People who have come to the rally from various cities across the country want to hear what this government agency has done to save their loved ones. After all, according to the Geneva Convention, medical personnel are not combatants; they must not be taken prisoner and are not to be used as bargaining chips.
“Unfortunately, in today’s world, mere words are not enough; to prove Russia’s crimes, we need evidence. Evidence that is properly collected, documented in accordance with the law, and submitted to international institutions. Only in this way can we hold Russian criminals accountable,” said Svitlana Bohdanenko, one of the activists with the civil society organization “Military Medics of Ukraine,
” at the rally.
According to her, their organization has collected and submitted to more than 40 embassies around the world documentary evidence of Russia’s capture and detention of Ukrainian military medics. These documents were submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a call to help publicize Russia’s crimes through official diplomatic channels.
“The world must know the truth about Russia’s crimes!” said Svitlana Bohdanenko.
They studied together and got married in Mariupol
Along with Andriy Naiman, his colleagues who remained in Mariupol to save the lives of military personnel and civilians are also being held captive. They were later taken prisoner from “Azovstal.” All this time, Olga has been doing everything she can to secure the release of her beloved, whom she married in October 2021.
Whenever possible, Olga Naiman attends all rallies in Lviv in support of prisoners from all units that fought for Mariupol against the occupiers. In June of this year, she traveled to a similar event in Kyiv with her son. This time, she is in the capital without Yaroslav. Olga says that her family and friends are helping her fight for Andriy’s release so that he can be freed from the enemy’s prison sooner.
Ever since childhood, Andriy had decided for himself what he would become in the future and was confidently working toward that goal. After graduating from high school in Kyiv, when it was time to choose a university, he chose the Bogomolets National Medical University without hesitation: until 2016, he studied at the faculty that trains doctors for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For the next two years, he continued his studies at the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy.
“Andriy was always proud of his title as a doctor; he never questioned his choice,” Olga noted.
It was at the academy that Andriy and Olga met; both were studying at the Faculty of Military Medicine, majoring in “Internal Medicine.” Starting in 2018, Andriy Naiman served in Mariupol. When the 555th Garrison Hospital was established at the 61st Mobile Hospital base, he headed the neurology department. He provided medical care to both military personnel and civilians.
“After our assignments in June 2018, I served in Pokrovsk, while he served in Mariupol. It seems like the distance between the cities isn’t that great, but when both of you are in the military—and in the Joint Forces Operation zone, no less—the only chance to see each other is during leave. As it turned out, 2021 was the best year for us—my contract had ended by then, we got married, I was pregnant, and we had the chance to be together all the time in Mariupol. But it didn’t last very long—about half a year. We had to sort out some paperwork. “On February 20, 2022, I still had the chance to leave a peaceful Mariupol—which was still part of Ukraine at the time,” Olga recalls.
At Azovstal, he saw a short video and photos of his newborn son
On February 24, when the full-scale war began, Andriy was at the hospital. On the very first day, he realized the conditions under which he would have to work. The head of the neurology department didn’t even consider the options of fleeing or breaking his oath. Olga recalls that her husband tried to get in touch whenever possible; not once did he tell his beloved how difficult it was to work while shells flew overhead and bombs fell nearby.
Andriy Naiman was always proud to be a doctor; he was proud to save what is most precious—people’s
lives
“When we had a connection, he’d send short messages: ‘I’m alive,’ ‘We’re working,’ or ‘+’. Because he knew how important that was to me. But over time, as we know, communication became increasingly difficult, so one of his colleagues would sometimes call or text me. And that was enough, because from various sources I understood the conditions they were facing. You know, even before March 1, I was hoping—and trying to convince others—that they would be pulled back from the front lines. But when the city was completely surrounded, I realized that it was dangerous for them as well. “Well, and they couldn’t leave that many wounded people in the city,” says the wife of the captured medic.
On March 16, an airstrike destroyed the last wing of the hospital, which had been operating until that very day. The entire medical staff, along with the wounded, split into two groups. Andriy Naiman, as part of one of the groups, joined the Ukrainian military at “Azovstal,” while the other group relocated to the Illich Steel Plant. Olga learned that her husband and some of his colleagues from the hospital were at the Azovstal steel plant from a video on a Telegram channel published by the press service of what was then still the Azov Regiment.
“Andriy didn’t say much about the horrors that were actually unfolding in Mariupol. He kept saying there was a lot of work to do, but there wasn’t enough medicine or proper conditions to provide care. He constantly reassured me, telling me not to watch the news, because I was already in my last month of pregnancy at the time. Our son Yaroslav was born on April 19, 2022. At that time, Andriy was still able to post photos on social media. So he saw the short videos and photos of our newborn son. By the way, it was Andriy who chose our son’s name as soon as we found out about the pregnancy and that we were expecting a boy,” recalls Olga.
I don’t know
where my beloved is now or how he’s doing health-wise Until May 18, 2022, amid constant airstrikes, artillery shelling, and assaults on the plant—in inhumane conditions at a makeshift hospital alongside his colleagues—Andriy Naiman provided medical care to the wounded. They were targeted from the sea, the air, and the ground, yet they continued to do more than seemed possible.
Then came the command’s order to evacuate “Azovstal.” On May 16, the first defenders of Mariupol left the steel plant. Two days later, Andriy got in touch with his wife. Olga then asked her husband if he knew they were being taken to the territory of the so-called “DPR.” Andriy remained silent. Then he sent a message: “Anything is possible.”
And on the morning of May 19, Olga saw another video of our servicemen leaving the plant grounds, in which, in the final seconds, her husband gets on a bus. Since then, Andriy has been in Olenivka, periodically getting in touch or sending word through others that he was fine and alive.
In the video, Olga saw her beloved Andriy; he, along with other defenders and medics, was being taken into enemy captivity
on orders
“Like other families, the tragedy at the Olenivka colony was extremely difficult to bear. When you can’t fathom that something like this is possible in our time—that it was done on purpose—you watch all the news, pray, and wait for a miracle. Sometime after lunch on July 29, he called me himself and said, ‘I’m alive.’ You can’t imagine how relieved I felt at that moment,” she shared.
In Olenivka, the head of the neurology department at Mariupol Hospital No. 555 remained there until October 2022; after that, his family learned of his whereabouts from released medical workers or military personnel.
“They told me where Andriy was at the time of their release. That’s all the information I have. I’m grateful to those who were released—who found me themselves through Telegram search channels or through mutual acquaintances—and tried to tell me about Andriy and the conditions of his captivity. Those calls or messages from them are like a breath of fresh air to me. Unfortunately, there haven’t been any prisoner exchanges for a long time—the last one was on May 6. So I don’t know how Andriy is doing right now, what condition he’s in, or whether he’s still in the same place where he’s been all this time.
You know, every morning I wake up hoping that today will be the day. But by evening, you realize that my beloved has spent yet another day there, and the future remains uncertain once again. I believe that day will finally come soon. After all, we have so much to look forward to, and most importantly—meeting my son.
"
Medical personnel in captivity—a violation of the Geneva Conventions
The families of the medical personnel who were taken captive have joined together in the civic organization “Military Medics of Ukraine” with a common goal — to draw the attention of international organizations to the Russian Federation’s failure to comply with the Geneva Conventions and to emphasize the need for the release of non-combatants. Currently, more than 500 medical personnel who helped and saved military personnel and civilians are being held captive by Russia.
The families of the captive medical personnel are appealing to all authorities to secure their return
Their families are appealing to all authorities and organizing protests to draw the world’s attention to the fact that Russia’s holding of medical workers hostage constitutes a direct violation of international humanitarian law.
On July 27, in honor of Medical Workers’ Day, the Center for Civil Liberties, together with the nonprofit organization “Military Medics of Ukraine,” launched an information and advocacy campaign aimed at ensuring the rights of medical personnel held captive as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war. They continue to urge international medical institutions and organizations to increase pressure on Russia to secure the return of those who saved lives.
This is an automatic translation generated by DeepL.