The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Borys worked as a rescuer in April 2022 in occupied Melitopol. Soon after, due to his pro-Ukrainian stance, he ended up behind bars.
The story of the Ukrainian freed from Russian captivity was told by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
“This story began in April 2022 in occupied Melitopol. Borys worked as a rescuer, and because of that he instantly became a target for the invaders — like everyone who helped Ukraine”, — the statement says.
At first, he was repeatedly offered Russian citizenship and a job at the local Ministry of Emergency Situations. However, each time Borys refused because he did not want to become a collaborator.
As noted by the Coordination Headquarters, soon afterward, due to his pro-Ukrainian position, he was imprisoned and experienced the full brutality of the so-called “Russian world”. As well as all of its surrealism — first in the so-called “DPR”.
“They repeated Russian propaganda theses while using Ukrainian passports. They talked about the ‘advantages’ of life in the Soviet Union, even though they never lived in it. This nostalgia was present even in a 20-year-old guard who could have chosen a better life — chosen Ukraine”, — Borys said.
Later, he faced a brutal “reception” already in colonies on the territory of the aggressor state.
“The ‘endless transit’ along the so-called ‘Golden Ring of Russia’ began: the system did not keep him in any prison for long”, — the Coordination Headquarters reported.
During the years of captivity, Borys lost weight down to 45 kilograms. In one of the institutions, prison guards even decided to give him a little more freeze-dried potatoes. At the same time, physical and psychological pressure never stopped.
“A book appeared in the cell very rarely. It became a portal to a world where there was something other than bars and pain”, — Borys recalled.
According to him, each colony was like a separate world. Everything differed: from the appearance of iron shields on cell windows to silence regimes or rules of standing motionless for many hours. Only the attitude of the guards remained unchanged.
“If there was an opportunity, I tried to move more in the cell. But the guards perceived physical activity as preparation for resistance — and punished it brutally”, — the man said.
Despite everything, in enemy prisons Borys continued to care for his fellow captives, in particular washing purulent wounds of wounded comrades. Whispered conversations with them helped preserve sanity.
“Most held on to memories of family, but thinking about loved ones was sometimes hard — it tore the heart apart. We also often recalled cooking recipes… Everyone talked about how they cooked at home. We were kind of creating an imaginary feast amid real hunger”, — Borys recalled.
Solidarity and mutual support always existed among the captives.
“In the cell there was a rule — we gave the birthday man our daily bread ration. It was the most valuable gift one could imagine”, — the man smiles.
Returning to Ukraine was his dream — a dream that became reality after a sudden nighttime wake-up.
“One flight by plane, then another, and then I waited a week because it turned out my surname had been written incorrectly in Russian lists”, — he said.
Borys is convinced that everything ultimately succeeded because the Ukrainian side pushed it through.
Today, the man has already completed a course of treatment and continues rehabilitation. From the first hours on Ukrainian soil, his wife Liudmyla has always been by his side. It is she who gives Borys the strength to realize what he planned even in enemy prisons — to return to service in the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS).
“I didn’t go through this hard path to give up. Especially now, when the country needs the help of everyone who can be useful”, — Borys assured.
