"Reminiscent of Nazi Concentration Camps"… Ukrainian Prisoner Returns with Only Bones Remaining

Ukrainian Authorities Release Photos of Repatriated Prisoners Last Month
"Most Released Prisoners Show Weight Loss and Chronic Illness"

Ukrainian authorities condemned Russia after releasing photos of prisoners of war who were detained by Russia and returned to their home country. The prisoners of war in the photos showed a miserable appearance, revealing emaciated bodies with almost nothing left but bones.

On the 5th (local time), the US CNN reported that the Ukrainian Prisoner of War Treatment Coordination Headquarters released photos of prisoners of war who returned to Ukraine that day. Ukraine received 75 prisoners on the 31st of last month after agreeing to a prisoner exchange with Russia mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The person in the photos released by Ukrainian authorities that day was Roman Horilyk (40), one of the prisoners of war repatriated this time.

On the 5th (local time), the appearance of repatriated prisoners of war released by Ukraine.
[Photo by Ukraine Border Guard, Yonhap News]

Horilyk worked as a guard at the checkpoint of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in northern Ukraine and was captured by Russian forces in March 2022, shortly after Russia's invasion. After being detained in Russia for over two years, he returned showing severe weight loss. Horilyk appeared almost skeletal, with protruding ribs and collarbones, a sunken abdomen, and pale skin.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces told CNN that most of the released prisoners suffered weight loss, had wounds on their bodies, and suffered from chronic diseases due to untreated injuries. The Ukrainian Prisoner of War Treatment Coordination Headquarters pointed out, "The appearance of the returned Ukrainian prisoners of war reminds us of the darkest pages in human history, such as Nazi concentration camps."

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, criticized on X (formerly Twitter), "The prisoners returned to Ukraine in a terrible condition," adding, "Torture by starvation is horrific, and beatings and violence are insidious." He also said, "Russia is ignoring international human rights agreements," and raised his voice, "The Geneva Conventions no longer exist. Russia thinks it can again avoid responsibility for war crimes." The Geneva Conventions are international treaties designed to protect victims of war, including provisions that prisoners of war must be treated humanely and with dignity.

The before and after images of Ukrainian soldier Volodymyr Chemabursov, who was captured and released as a prisoner of war. [Image source=Captured from X (formerly Twitter)]

This is not the first time shocking images of Ukrainian prisoners repatriated have been released. Earlier in February, the image of a Ukrainian soldier who had been detained in Russia for 20 months and then released shocked the world. The soldier, Volodymyr Chemabursov (41), who served in the 56th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian army, was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 and detained for about 20 months before being released in January under a prisoner exchange agreement between the two countries.

Before being captured, Chemabursov was a robust man, standing 189 cm tall and weighing 95 kg. However, his appearance after repatriation was so miserable that it was unrecognizable compared to his past self. During captivity, Chemabursov lost 38 kg, returning home weighing only 57 kg. As a result, his eyes and cheekbones were deeply sunken, and his ribs were visible due to his emaciated body. He was reportedly in a severe state of starvation during captivity and is currently receiving treatment to regain his health.

Chemabursov told local media, "My health is much worse than expected," and said he was diagnosed with acute gastritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, digestive disorders, and chronic prostatitis. He was held captive in several locations, including detention facilities in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Luhansk and on Russian soil, where he revealed he was subjected to abuse and torture. He said, "They (Russian forces) stripped prisoners of their clothes and tortured them, causing many prisoners to be seriously injured," adding, "They beat all over the body ? head, chest, back, arms, and legs ? with clubs and electric shock devices." He continued, "When I was released, I was so dazed that I didn't even realize I had returned to Ukraine."

Chemabursov's wife, Anna (34), could only weep at the sight of her husband’s drastically changed appearance, despite the joy of reuniting with him. Anna said, "I hope people will know what is happening to Ukrainian prisoners held in Russian prisons by seeing my husband's condition."