A Ukrainian official has expressed optimism to the BBC regarding a potential New Year prisoner exchange with Russia, stating that it could occur “any day.” However, they cautioned that arrangements might collapse at the last moment.
Petro Yatsenko, representing Ukraine‘s Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, reported that negotiations with Moscow regarding prisoner swaps have faced increasing challenges in recent months, coinciding with significant advances made by Russian forces on the front line.
In 2024, the number of exchanges reached a mere 10, marking the lowest figure since the onset of the full-scale invasion. While Ukraine refrains from disclosing the exact figures of prisoners of war held by Russia, estimates suggest that the total exceeds 8,000.
This year, Russia has achieved notable advancements on the battlefield, prompting concerns about an increase in the number of Ukrainians being taken captive.
Among those returned in the recent exchange in September 2024 is Ukrainian marine Andriy Turas. In a modest apartment in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, Andriy and his wife Lena recount the extraordinary tale of their harrowing experience. In 2022, both individuals were apprehended while defending the city of Mariupol.
“They conducted lectures with us on the premise that Ukraine never existed,” recounts Lena, a combat medic, reflecting on her experiences with her Russian captors. “Efforts were made to eradicate our Ukrainian identity from our consciousness.”
Lena has been freed following two weeks of captivity. The psychological scars from her time in a Russian PoW facility continue to linger. “We repeatedly heard screams, and we understood that the men in our unit were undergoing torture,” she states.
“They assaulted us without restraint, using their fists, sticks, hammers—anything within reach,” Andriy recounts. “We were stripped of our clothing in the frigid temperatures and compelled to crawl on the unforgiving asphalt.” Our legs bore the marks of the ordeal, and we were left in a state of fear and chill.
“The culinary experience was nothing short of alarming, featuring sour cabbage and what appeared to be spoiled fish heads.” “It’s simply a nightmare,” states the marine. “It resembles the experience of awakening from a distressing nightmare in the dead of night, soaked in perspiration and gripped by fear.”
Andriy spent significantly more time in prison than his wife, enduring a sentence of two-and-a-half years.
Three months ago, following a prisoner exchange, Andriy had the opportunity to meet his two-year-old son, Leon, for the first time. At the moment the couple was apprehended by Russian forces, Lena was unaware that she was pregnant.
“Upon discovering my pregnancy, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Initially, tears of joy filled my eyes, but soon they turned to sorrow as I realized I couldn’t share the news with my husband.”
“I consistently penned letters to him, expressing that he would soon have the child he had desired for so long,” Lena recounts, her eyes gleaming. “However, he did not receive a single letter.”
I asked Andriy about his emotions when meeting his son for the first time. “I believed I was the happiest person in the world,” he remarks, a smile spreading across his face.
The BBC faces challenges in independently verifying the statements made by Lena and Andriy; however, their narratives find support in the findings of international organizations that have conducted interviews with numerous Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The United Nations has reported that Russia is subjecting Ukrainian prisoners to extensive and systematic torture and ill-treatment. This includes severe beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, suffocation, prolonged stress positions, forced excessive exercise, sleep deprivation, mock executions, threats of violence, and humiliation.
The Russian Embassy in London told the BBC, asserting, “The allegations you have described are patently false.” Captured Ukrainian militants are being treated by Russian law and the principles outlined in the Geneva Convention, ensuring humane conditions for those detained. Individuals receive high-quality food, adequate shelter, medical care, and religious and intellectual support.
Andriy is currently receiving rehabilitation at a medical facility located in Lviv. Despite his busy schedule, he manages to carve out time to celebrate the holidays with his wife and son. The Turas family is celebrating their inaugural Christmas together, and for young Leon, the most cherished gift is having his father at home.
Many Ukrainians continue to await news of their loved ones with a sense of desperation. In central Kyiv, a gathering of relatives and activists is taking place for a special Christmas demonstration aimed at advocating for the release of Ukrainian prisoners.
For hours, they endure the biting cold, forming a line along one of the capital’s main streets while passing motorists express their support with a deafening chorus of honking horns.
“We are holding onto the hope for a Christmas miracle,” states Tetiana, whose 24-year-old son Artem has been in captivity for nearly three years. “The release of my son is my most profound desire.” The anticipation of our meeting has played out in my mind countless times. I envision the moment we embrace, his eyes sparkling with joy as he stands on his native soil again.
29-year-old Liliya Ivashchyk stands out among the protesters, clutching a red placard. She is a ballet dancer affiliated with the Kyiv National Operetta Theatre. In 2022, Russian forces captured her boyfriend, Bohdan. Since then, she has not communicated with him.
“I could express that being alone is challenging for me, but I hesitate to do so, as my thoughts are constantly occupied with concerns about his well-being over there,” Liliya remarks.
In the dimly lit backstage of the theatre, Liliya reveals the messages she continues to send to Bohdan nearly every day, sharing images adorned with tiny hearts. His absence is deeply felt. “He needs to be saved and have his freedom back,” she states, her bottom lip quivering with emotion. The messages remain unread.
Liliya invites us to witness her special performance on Christmas Day. Johann Strauss’s 1866 composition, the Blue Danube Waltz, has become a beloved dance in Ukraine. It was originally intended to uplift the spirits of the Austrian public after a period of conflict. The theatre is filled to capacity.
“The Christmas holidays are a painful period,” she remarks as she readies herself to take the stage. “The atmosphere lacks any sense of festivity.”
As the final curtain falls, audience members hastily gather their coats. Nearly three years into the conflict, it is a stark reality that most individuals in this region have a family member or friend who is either engaged in combat, held as a prisoner, or has tragically lost their life in the fighting.
Liliya highlights the challenging circumstances many individuals in Ukraine are currently enduring. Anticipation builds as we look forward to the moment we can gather and celebrate again. Acknowledging the contributions of our military is essential, as their sacrifices are the reason we celebrate any holidays today.
