Aloha Cara

“You’d better shoot me, but I won’t sign it.” Because of his Hutsul dialect, russian guards repeatedly called him a “Banderite” and demanded that he sign a document agreeing to accept russian citizenship. Nearly 700 days in captivity. Torture, starvation, beatings, electric shocks and humiliation. Nearly 700 days of trying to force a Ukrainian soldier to renounce his country. They couldn’t break him. Petro Nedokhodiuk is from Krasnoillia, a Hutsul village in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region. He lost his parents at an early age. His grandmother raised him, and later his older sister became a mother figure to him. In 2023, Petro joined the defence of Ukraine. A machine gunner with the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss,” he fought on the Bakhmut front, holding positions alongside his fellow soldiers for seven days at a time under relentless shelling. In July 2023, he suffered severe injuries to his head, leg and shoulder. He lay in a field for an entire day before falling into russian captivity. A traumatic brain injury left him with amnesia for six months. He couldn’t even recognise his own family. But the worst was yet to come. In a prison in Bashkortostan, prisoners were tortured almost daily. They were forced to stand bent over for hours, beaten and shocked with electric batons. Soaked prisoners were made to run while guards struck them. Physical pain wasn’t enough. His captors wanted to destroy his will and strip him of his identity. Prayer was his only solace. But even crossing himself brought punishment. After one bout of abuse, Petro couldn’t even lift a spoon to his mouth. Being unbreakable doesn’t mean feeling no pain or fear. It means refusing to let your torturers decide who you are, even when your life is entirely in their hands. On July 22, 2025, prisoners were taken from their cells, their hands bound and their eyes covered. Their captors threatened to kill them along the way. But this time, Petro was going home. On August 20, 2025, his home region of Verkhovyna welcomed him back. He had lost more than 20 kilograms in captivity. He still struggles with his eyesight, hearing and legs. He continues his rehabilitation and is learning how to live again. He bought a small dog in memory of the dog that died beside him at his battlefield position. He dreams of recovering and becoming a volunteer so he can help others. After everything he endured, Petro has held on to his ability to love, show compassion and care about other people. russia spent nearly 700 days trying to force Petro to renounce Ukraine. It failed. He came home with a wounded body, but his Ukrainian identity and his humanity remained his own. Now, he dreams of helping others rebuild their lives, too. Glory to Ukraine’s warriors. And deep respect to every Ukrainian defender.

Artem Koval, 12, has died after more than a week in hospital. His 8-year-old sister, Arina, was killed in the same russian attack six days ago. A brother and a sister. Both killed by russia. And the world keeps looking away.