Mariupol resident Arthur from the beginning of a full-scale war stood up to protect his city. The group of defenders, where the man was, got into a cordon.
This was told at the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. They told the story of Artur (name changed) from Mariupol.
The man was taken prisoner when the adjacent unit left the position. Then the fighting group, where Arthur was, was ordered to surrender. He returned home on 4 February during an exchange of prisoners of war. Ukrainians may remember photographs where Arthur kisses his native land.
We seemed to be small groups, about 50 people each. It seemed scary: they thought that they would immediately start killing us. But we were “received” by the so-called “Deneerites” and the Russians ordered them not to touch us. Therefore, at first they didn’t even beat us, ”the man recalled.
Captivity conditions
After being taken prisoner, they tried to find out the name, unit, position from the Ukrainians. This was called “acceptance”. According to Artur, when a person began to talk, the Russians immediately beat him with sticks. In captivity, they were given very little food and forced to eat very quickly. The products were mostly spoiled.
Arthur said that the guards forbade reading. They were not allowed to watch TV or listen to the radio. The Ukrainians tried to convince them that no one was waiting for them at home, and that Russia was winning the war.
“We were constantly told that they would never change us, that Ukraine did not need us. They lied that Ukraine had already fallen, and they would take us to Siberia to cut down forests. “, the man said.
Homecoming
Before the exchange, the Ukrainians were wrapped in plastic bags and brought to the airfield. Artur recalled that the prisoners were taken in paddy wagons and were not allowed to raise their heads. It seemed to the man that he was being taken to another colony, but later he heard the Ukrainian language.
“Guys, raise your heads, everything is fine, you are free!”. In Ukrainian! At first I thought that the Russians wanted to joke like that, they learned a few words in Ukrainian. Then I see – Ukrainian chevron, our uniform, our flag! I had tears in my eyes,” Arthur said.
He began to convince his brothers that the captivity was behind, but they were very scared. Even when people were driving towards Ukraine, they still could not believe it.
We go out into the street – and there young girls, guys, smile, hug us! Everyone helps everyone. And I raised my head to look at the sky – in captivity we were forbidden even to go to the windows. I haven't seen the sky for 10 months! And just fell to his knees and burst into tears. Kissed the snow and cried, could not restrain his emotions, – said Arthur.
What gave hope in captivity
Mariupol noted that in captivity, he and other Ukrainians tried to learn about the events. News of success gave hope. Arthur knew that sooner or later he would be exchanged.
“In captivity, we had nothing to do, we just sat for 16 hours. We were not allowed to work, and so that the brain would not degrade, I began to write songs in my head. I even wrote one about captivity. I also wrote one about how we fought. I plan to record in the studio in the future,” Artur shares his plans.
He added that it helped not to lose the spirit of communication with other prisoners, building plans for the future and faith in returning home.
