the essential
A Ukrainian soldier, captured by the Russian army in Mariupol at the start of the conflict, was released at the end of December as part of a prisoner exchange between the two countries. Today he recounts his difficult stay in Russian prisons.
His captivity lasted precisely 991 days, spent in eight different Russian prisons, as he explained today to BFMTV journalists who were able to meet him. Oleksander was captured and taken prisoner on April 12, 2022 in Mariupol, less than two months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On December 30, he was finally able to return to his country, thanks to an agreement to exchange prisoners between the two countries, like an early Christmas present (Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 6, editor’s note).
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Returning to Ukraine, like 188 of his compatriots, Oleksander can now tell what he experienced to Western media, such as the French 24-hour news channel, which revealed the content of his testimony this Monday, January 13.
“I saw people die”
Since his capture by the Russian army, the Ukrainian soldier has been moved to no fewer than eight different prisons, but each time he has experienced horror. He says: “In some prisons where I was, we received beatings every day, blows with sticks, electric current, tear gas. And the constant threats, insults, humiliations”, he lists. he.
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According to Olksander, Ukrainian prisoners were left to their own devices during their captivity, even when they required care to stay alive. “I saw people die in captivity. Sometimes their chronic illnesses got worse and there was no medicine or care. The Russians had no desire to treat us,” he explains.
The soldier also reveals, without much surprise, the recurrence of torture scenes. “When you fall asleep, when you wake up, when you eat, you hear the screams of the people who are being tortured nearby.” An extreme daily life, which fortunately ended for Oleksander on December 30.
Swiss
