"I walked back and forth in the cell all day so I wouldn't freeze to death" – this is how Dmitro Hiljuk spent his days in the Russian prisoner of war camp

In March 2022, Dmitro Hiljuk and his elderly parents were detained by Russian soldiers in their home near Kyiv. They were accused of harboring terrorists and subjected to humiliation, including forced disrobing. After a brief release, Dmitro was captured again and taken to a dark, cramped room with other detainees. They were later moved to an abandoned factory in Hostomel, where they faced severe conditions, sharing limited water and no food for days. Despite promises of release for non-combatants, the number of detainees grew, primarily civilians from nearby areas. On March 17, after six days in Hostomel, they were loaded onto trucks, heading north, indicating a potential further relocation.