Freed Ukrainian soldier succumbs to captivity injuries

Zelenskyy, from Siverskodonetsk, served in the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, his unit delivered weapons to defenders in Mariupol.

"“When the offensive began, they were told volunteers were needed for an assault. Out of 40, eight said, ‘We’ll go.’ My father was one of them. He was a sapper tasked with mining a bridge. They told him, ‘Don’t worry, the National Police are there, they’re waiting for you, everything will be fine.’ He arrived, and they were indeed waiting. It seemed fine; everyone spoke Russian. But it turned out they weren’t our people,” his daughter Valeria recounted.

Zelenskyy spent 39 months in captivity. His family was repeatedly told he was on exchange lists, but other individuals named Zelenskyy were released instead.

“You have to understand what three years in captivity means. The first year was the hardest because he was with ‘DPR’ fighters—somewhat unhinged people. There were Wagner Group fighters too, and the torture wasn’t just cruel, it was inhuman. But he endured. He held on for two more years. He told me, ‘Daughter, I survived because of my Kyokushin [karate]. I have discipline, and I’m tough. My muscles protected me,’” Valeria recalled.

Zelenskyy was freed on May 25, 2025, as part of the “1,000-for-1,000” prisoner exchange. After returning, he was overjoyed to meet his new grandson, in addition to his two granddaughters. When doctors asked about suicidal tendencies, he replied that he had “a whole life to live.”

Valeria noted that his medical report detailed nearly every form of torture used against him.

“He had multiple injuries; his shoulder and arm were no longer functional. The consequences of all that torture left his body so exhausted it burned out in just a week,” his daughter said.

His condition deteriorated rapidly, landing him in intensive care. Doctors initially suspected pancreatic issues, but during surgery, they discovered, “All his organs were disintegrating.” Necrosis was not limited to the pancreas.

“He held on purely by strength of spirit. You’re torn by two feelings. The first is unbearable pain because your loved one is gone. They were simply tortured to death. And there’s joy that he no longer endures that torture,” Valeria added.

This is not the first case of Ukrainian defenders dying after captivity. In June 2025, Dmytro Shapovalov, freed from Russian captivity on April 26, 2023, also died. A video circulated online showed him saying he had dreamed of an apple during his year in captivity.

That same month, Serhiy Dobrovolskyi from Rivne Oblast, held captive since 2023 and freed in the May exchange, passed away. Days before his death, he was welcomed by his hometown community.