Three Years in Captivity: The Hard Fate of a Ukrainian Journalist
The hardest part of captivity is not having any information, disappearing from the world for years. This is the testimony of journalist Dmytro Hiliuk, who spent 3.5 years in Russian captivity, in an interview for 'Glavkom'.
“It was very oppressive, even more than hunger. You don't know what's happening in the world for years, only some vague rumors circulate. Someone interacts with people who got imprisoned later, they tell something, but by the time this information reaches you, it's already distorted ten times,” shares the former captive.
Hope for Freedom: Release and Return to Normal Life
Dmytro Hiliuk also shared how he spent his time in the cell and what he read to distract himself. “We talked, talked, talked... We were silent and then spoke again. And if we were given books, we read. Mostly books in the style of Soviet realism. Those that were not discarded as waste paper in the 1990s. About five-year plans and more. Some examples of graphomania, I must admit, I could not tackle,” Dmytro shares. In such dire conditions, none of his fellow inmates broke. “No, there were no ones who broke down. There were more pessimistic ones who tried to vent their pessimism and irritation on others. And there were the opposite – those who not only held on themselves but also supported others,” the man adds.
His parents could not come to meet him due to illness, but colleagues greeted him warmly. Also, along the road by each settlement, there were people with flags and yellow-blue flares.
Summary:
The Ukrainian journalist spoke about how difficult it is to be in captivity due to the lack of information and how he and his comrades held on in tough conditions. After his release, he was welcomed warmly and friendly.