Ukrainian soldier survives throat cut and torture in Russian captivity
Vladyslav, who survived torture by Russian forces (photo: Suspilne Dnipro)
Ukrainian soldier Vladyslav survived torture by Russian forces, who slit his throat and threw him into a pit along with other fighters. He managed to get out and crawled for nearly five days to reach Ukrainian positions, Suspilne Dnipro reports.
The 33-year-old National Guardsman was captured near Pokrovsk. According to his relatives, the Russians tortured prisoners – gouged out eyes, cut off ears, and inflicted other brutal mutilations. Vladyslav was the last among eight soldiers whom the Russian forces threw into a pit, believing him to be dead.
Despite his throat being slit and his hands tied, he managed to free himself with a shard of glass and get out. For five days the soldier crawled to his own, until he reached Ukrainian positions.
On August 17, he was taken in extremely serious condition to a hospital in Dnipropetrovsk region. Doctors noted that the chances of survival were minimal, as the soldier suffered massive blood loss and wound infection. He has already undergone a complex operation, and doctors are doing everything possible to enable him to speak again.
Despite what he endured, Vladyslav tells his relatives that he dreams of returning to the front to avenge his comrades. Most of all, he wants to see his 4-year-old daughter.
The man talks about what he went through in a video.
Russia not only systematically uses torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war, but also distributes special manuals describing effective methods of torture. According to Azov, this is a state policy of Russia. UN monitoring confirms that more than 95% of Ukrainian prisoners have been subjected to torture.
The Security Service of Ukraine announced suspicions against nine Russian servicemen for torture and illegal detention of civilians in the Bucha district during the occupation in 2022. Among them is the commander of the 64th brigade, Azatbek Omurbekov. All of them face up to 12 years in prison or life imprisonment.
