Before and after photos of tortured Ukrainian war prisoners who lost up to 40kg body weight during 2-year Russian captivity

Horrific photos have shown the effects of imprisonment, starvation, and torture on the bodies of Ukrainian war prisoners.

103 Ukrainian prisoners of war (PoW) have just been released after 2 years in Russian captivity.

“Our guys are home,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a statement, confirming their release. 

Those freed include defenders of the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol at the start of the full-scale war in 2022, military personnel, police officers and border guards. 

Before and after images of them tell story of the horror they endured in the hands of their enemy.

In the before photos, all three men, who agreed to be pictured, are shown smiling, with their faces much fuller and cheeks rosy. 

After two years of imprisonment, they have returned home “absolutely exhausted” and almost emaciated after losing between 20kg and 40kg. Their collarbones are sticking out and their eyes are almost hollow. Their bellies are sunken, shoulders and hip joints clearly visible under their pale skin. 

Their condition is similar to the one of other Ukrainians returned form captivity in Russia.

Photographer Kostiantyn Liberov shared the images on Instagram as part of his series documenting the abuse that Ukrainian PoWs have endured. 

“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.”

In a report issued in July, a United Nations human rights agency said it “continued to document the widespread use of torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, against civilians and Ukrainian PoWs held by the Russian Federation.”

Saturday’s swap is the eighth of its kind since the beginning of 2024, and puts the total number of PoWs exchanged at 1,994.