Disturbing photographs have revealed the severe impact of imprisonment, starvation, and torture on Ukrainian war prisoners.
Recently, 103 Ukrainian prisoners of war (PoWs) were released after enduring two years in Russian captivity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed their release, stating, “Our guys are home.” The released prisoners include defenders from the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, military personnel, police officers, and border guards.
The before-and-after photos starkly illustrate the horrors they experienced. In the earlier images, the men appear healthy and smiling, with fuller faces and rosy cheeks.
However, after two years in captivity, they have returned home severely weakened and almost emaciated, having lost between 20kg and 40kg. Their collarbones are prominent, their eyes appear hollow, and their bellies are sunken, with shoulders and hip joints clearly visible beneath their pale skin.
Their condition is similar to the one of other Ukrainians returned form captivity in Russia.
Photographer Kostiantyn Liberov shared the images on Instagram as part of his series documenting the abuse that Ukrainian PoWs have endured.
“In the photos, you see Ukrainian soldiers who returned from Russian captivity a few days ago after being held for more than two years,” he said. “These are those who agreed to be photographed. We are writing this in English because people in Ukraine already know that Russia is violating the Geneva Convention and is keeping our prisoners in inhumane conditions.
“The photos are evidence of that, and with this publication, we aim once again to draw the attention of the Western audience and emphasise: Russia tortures, abuses, and starves those who were simply defending their homes. Russia denies international commissions access to its prisoner-of-war camps, clearly to hide evidence of Geneva Convention violations.
“Meanwhile, Russian soldiers in Ukrainian captivity improve their health under constant medical supervision and gain weight thanks to a balanced diet (you can find evidence of this even in this profile).
“On the other hand, Ukrainians return home absolutely exhausted and 20, 30, even 40 kilograms lighter.”
In a report issued in July, a United Nations human rights agency said it “continued to document the widespread use of torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, against civilians and Ukrainian PoWs held by the Russian Federation.”
Saturday’s swap is the eighth of its kind since the beginning of 2024, and puts the total number of PoWs exchanged at 1,994.
