Andriy Stepanov

 

“Because I was tortured with electric shock on my neck after having a shower my heart stopped beating. Luckily, their doctors managed to revive me. I assume that having accidents in their prisons is not a not desirable thing. Occasionally they have inspections and the data has to be good”.

 

Actually, his heart stopped twice.

 

Source: www.youtube.com/shorts/tp74cU60ZZA, from Suspilne Chernivtsi (www.youtube.com/@SuspilneChernivtsi). 24 September 2024Full interview on www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb9HaJ3dYU8

 

 

 

Yuriy Gulchuk

 

22 year old marine Yuriy Gulchuk was in Russian captivity from April 2022 to 14 September 2024.

 

As a result of constant beating and torture with electric shock his legs went numb and he lost his ability to talk and feel.

 

When he was returned he looked at his mum with an empty expression in his eyes as if he was looking through her. He didn't show any emotions. He did not even recognise his mother until his 3rd day in Ukraine.

 

Despite the doctors’ initially pessimistic diagnosis, Yuriy began to talk. He has kind of a lisp but he’s started to talk!

 

He has even tried to stand up and walk. At the moment his dream is to be able to go on a smoke break. His dream is to walk.

 

His first words were: “Why so much pain? Why so many lies? Why are people so cruel to each other?”

 

Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxdNRucUa-A. September 2024

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Olexiy Ryzhnenko

 

A border guard from Kherson region, Olexiy Ryzhynenko spent 28 months in Russian captivity.

 

“There are moments that I don't even want to talk about. They (the Russians) did terrible things. They only fed us only once a day. They would pour boiling water on half an onion ring floating in a disposable plate. I started to lose weight very rapidly. When I came back home to Ukraine I weighed 65 kgs in comparison to 95kg before Russian captivity. During two and a half years in Russian captivity I was given apples, onion or garlic only a few times.

 

I can't describe my feelings when I saw the sign saying “Welcome to Ukraine’. I wanted to cry and to shout!”

 

Source: www.youtube.com/shorts/oc4wK4xQTpI, 16 September 2024