A Ukrainian soldier, freed from Russian captivity, shared his harrowing experience of torture with his family in a video published by Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram on July 17.
In the footage, the Ukrainian defender calls his family immediately after his release.
"I'll be in the hospital for an examination," he tells his relatives. "I have severe stomach problems. They beat my ribs — I can't breathe properly."
Ukraine has released 95 defenders from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard, and Border Guards from Russian captivity, returning them home.
Most of the released soldiers had been held captive by Russia since 2022.
Bloomberg earlier reported that Ukraine and Russia planned to exchange 180 prisoners of war as part of a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.