As Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine continues, harrowing stories from Ukrainian POWs reveal the horrific abuse they endured in captivity. Some survivors have lost their ability to speak, silenced by torture. This is the story of two who made it home.
UN investigations confirm Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) played a direct role in torturing Ukrainian POWs. Detainees were beaten, electrocuted, sexually assaulted, and subjected to mock executions. In one case, a prisoner near Olenivka had wires attached to his genitals and nose before being electrocuted “for fun.”
Andrii
In February 2024, paratrooper Andrii Ovod was captured in Donetsk after a grenade injury. Blindfolded and bound, his torture began immediately. Electric shocks were applied to open wounds, and during surgery, “Glory to Russia” was burned into his stomach. After 14 months of captivity, he was freed in May 2025. His daughter kept him going. “She didn’t recognize me at first. But I kept my word. I came back.”
Vladyslav
National Guard serviceman Vladyslav, 33, was captured in summer 2025. His throat was slit, and he lost his voice. Speaking through his family, he described seeing fellow prisoners mutilated—eyes gouged, ears and genitals cut off. Left for dead in a pit, he escaped by cutting his bonds with a broken bottle and crawled for five days to safety.
He arrived at a hospital on August 17 in critical condition. Surgeons are working to restore his speech. His 4-year-old daughter fuels his recovery—and his wish to return to the front.
For many Ukrainian POWs, captivity was not survival—it was a different kind of war. And somehow, they’re still fighting their way back.