Ivan Petrovsky defended Mariupol in the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion before being captured in May 2022. After nearly three years in Russian captivity, the Ukrainian National Guardsman returned home 40 kg (88.1 lb) lighter, according to his Instagram post.
Russian authorities have systematically violated the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Almost every Ukrainian POW interviewed by the UN reported experiencing torture, including severe beatings, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, dog attacks, mock executions, prolonged stress positions, and sexual violence.
POWs are held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, deprived of adequate food, water, medical care, and communication with their families. In contrast, Russian POWs in Ukrainian captivity are reportedly treated in accordance with international law.
Petrovsky, who turned 30 just two days before his release, was among 175 Ukrainian defenders freed in a prisoner exchange on March 19. “I am home. The difference is 1,037 days of captivity and minus 40 kilograms,” he wrote on Instagram, sharing before-and-after photos documenting his physical transformation.
Originally from Brovary in Kyiv Oblast, Petrovsky served in Mariupol, which was encircled at the start of the full-scale war. His military service began in 2015 when he was drafted into the National Guard of Ukraine. After completing his mandatory service, he signed a contract to continue serving. He was later transferred to Mariupol, where he joined the 12th Operational Brigade named after Dmytro Vyshnevetsky and took part in the city's defense before being captured in May 2022.
According to his mother, Petrovsky was initially held in Olenivka before being transferred to Russia’s Volgograd Oblast. She noted that he suffered health problems during his captivity. The news of his impending release came as a surprise to his family. “I didn’t know my son was being prepared for exchange,” his mother told Ukrinform. “My cousin called and said she saw his name on an exchange list, but I didn’t believe it. Then, an hour later, my sunshine called and said: ‘Mom, I’m in Ukraine.’ I prayed for my son every day.”
Petrovsky returned to a family eagerly awaiting him, including his parents, wife, and two children.
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets reported that seriously ill Ukrainian POWs are dying in Russian captivity due to denied medical care. Since February 2022, approximately 3,956 Ukrainians have been released, but many remain detained under inhumane conditions, suffering from torture and medical neglect.
The Ukrainian Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) has documented a significant rise in deaths among Ukrainian POWs held by Russia. These fatalities are attributed to inhumane conditions, torture, inadequate nutrition, and lack of medical care. MIHR has verified 22 deaths, while relatives estimate the number to be as high as 160.
Prisoners endure starvation-level rations—about three spoons of porridge, half a cup of tea, and two thin slices of bread per day—with limited access to water, often one cup shared among eight individuals. These dire conditions have led to severe health issues, including paralysis and speech loss, raising grave concerns about Russia’s adherence to international laws regarding the treatment of POWs.
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