Name: Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T09:34:45.124Z
Duration: 3 min 37 s
Description: Meet the Ukrainian soldier who has returned to fight on the frontline after more than two years of torture and isolation as a prisoner of war in Russian captivity.

Meet the Ukrainian soldier who has returned to fight on the frontline after more than two years of torture and isolation as a prisoner of war in Russian captivity.

Mariupol'

A Ukrainian soldier, Rusty, who was captured during the defense of Mariupol and endured over 30 months in Russian captivity, has returned to active duty with the Azov Brigade. Despite significant weight loss and the trauma of torture, Rusty was unexpectedly released in a prisoner exchange and chose to rejoin his unit, now serving as a commander in an elite reconnaissance group.

Rusty's return to the front line comes despite medical advice and his family's concerns. He now serves as both a leader and a symbol to younger recruits, highlighting the personal costs of the ongoing conflict and the risks faced by those defending Ukraine.

Ukrainian POW returns to front line after Russia torture

A year before I left Poland, I already knew that I was going back. Rusty was 24 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Already a soldier with Ukraine's Azov Brigade, he was sent to defend Mariupol, a strategic city under heavy attack. We understood that this was the last moment. As the Russians took ground, thousands of civilians and soldiers holed up in the Azov-style steelworks, a vast industrial complex. Supplies soon ran out. Soldiers were evacuated and the remaining soldiers were forced to surrender. They were taken into Russian captivity. Rusty lost more than 30 kilos. After nearly 30 months, and to his surprise, Rusty's name was added to a prisoner exchange list. Freedom required an adjustment. He was determined to return to his brigade. Doctors told him to rest. His mother asked him not to go. But his decision had been made long before. When they continued to torture me, my hatred for them grew stronger and stronger, and I assured myself that I would return to the army. The sooner, the better. He now helps lead an elite reconnaissance unit with the Azov Brigade. For young recruits, Rusty is both a commander and a reminder of the price they could pay. He's more aware than ever that he could pay the highest price of all.

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