Before and After Photos Show Drastic Weight Loss in Ukrainian War Prisoners After Two Years in Russian Captivity

Before and after images of previously captured Ukrainian soldiers have starkly illustrated the severe torture and starvation they endured while in Russian captivity, with some losing up to 40 kg of their body weight.

Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the release of 103 prisoners of war (PoWs).

The freed individuals include defenders of the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol from the early days of the full-scale war in 2022, as well as military personnel, police officers, and border guards.

Photos taken before their captivity show the three men, who consented to be photographed, smiling with fuller faces and rosy cheeks.

After two years of imprisonment, the prisoners have returned home “absolutely exhausted” and nearly emaciated, having lost between 20 kg and 40 kg, according to the Kyiv Post.

Their collarbones are protruding, their eyes appear hollow, and their bellies are sunken. Their shoulders and hip joints are clearly visible beneath their pale skin.

Photographer Kostiantyn Liberov shared the images on Instagram as part of his series documenting the abuse endured by Ukrainian prisoners of war.

‘In the photos, you see Ukrainian soldiers who returned from Russian captivity a few days ago after being held for more than two years,’ he said.

‘These are those who agreed to be photographed.

‘We are writing this in English because people in Ukraine already know that Russia is violating the Geneva Convention and is keeping our prisoners in inhumane conditions.

‘The photos are evidence of that, and with this publication, we aim once again to draw the attention of the Western audience and emphasise: Russia tortures, abuses, and starves those who were simply defending their homes.

‘Russia denies international commissions access to its prisoner-of-war camps, clearly to hide evidence of Geneva Convention violations.

‘Meanwhile, Russian soldiers in Ukrainian captivity improve their health under constant medical supervision and gain weight thanks to a balanced diet (you can find evidence of this even in this profile).

‘On the other hand, Ukrainians return home absolutely exhausted and 20, 30, even 40 kilograms lighter.

The prisoner swap on Saturday is the eighth of its kind since the start of 2024, bringing the total number of prisoners of war exchanged to 1,994.