Former POWs in Russia channel their pain into rebuilding lives in Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian prison In April, Stanislav Tarnavskyi rushed to build life in Ukraine, which he dreamed of during a three -year captivity.

25 -year -old proposed to his girlfriend, bought an apartment and accepted a gold hunter. And he succeeded in a week in July.

But it is busy as it revives the old relationships and creates new ones, Tarnavskyi I can’t shake trauma He and thousands of other Ukrainian military war prisoners. The UN says many beating, hunger and humiliation – experiences that will leave a lifetime scars.

Tarnavskyi captured during War for Mariupol He sees nightmares about the prisons he was held regularly in April 2022.

Orum I see the officers watching us. When he woke up, his heart pound fluctuates the worry – until he realized that he was at the foot of Kiev, he was forced to act because he occupied his hometown of Russian Berdiansk.

Like Three -year war continuesTarnavskyi is one of the more than 5,000 old Pow, which rehabilitates with the help of regular consultancy in Ukraine. Regardless of physical injuries that may require attention, psychologists say that watching old powers over the years after the release of psychologists is vital; The cost of the war is echoing for generations.

A marriage proposal

In a photographic studio on Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, the sunlight leaves white walls under water. After a few hours of shooting, Tarnavskyi said that brightness has damaged his eyes, which were still sensitive for years in a dark cell.

But the mood could not be darkened. Waiting for his return girlfriend, the surprise offer had given the proposal.

Orum I love you very much, I am very pleased that you are waiting for me, Tar Tarnavskyi said, holding a thick bouquet of pink rose and a ring. “You’ve always been my support and I hope you’ll stay like this for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”

Tarnavskyi said that Baieva, whom he met in 2021, had the idea that he had to stop suicide three times during captivity.

Nevertheless, he has difficulty talking to Baieva about his time in prison. He doesn’t want to be painful.

Shortly after returning home, paranoid felt that he was watching – reaction to constant surveillance in prison. “If you went out of the line, (Russians) would come and beat you.

But every week it feels better, and Tarnavskyi advances loans with a psychologist.

Lifelong care is vital importance

Ksia, the director of Ukraine’s Lisova Polyana Mental Health Center, can trigger traumatic memories for any small stimulus – a fragrance, a breeze, a color – Pows.

However, unlike stereotypes, the old Pows is not more aggressive. “They tend to isolate themselves, to avoid major meetings and fight confidence, Voz said Voznitsyna.

“They say time has healed – five or ten years, maybe – but not,” he added. “It’s just less intense.”

A study conducted in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine in 2014 found that old Israeli eruption and war veterans, which have been watched for more than 35 years, were due to higher mortality rates, chronic diseases and worse self-graded health-non-depression and post-trauma stress disorder.

The authors of the study, therefore, said that it is very important to watch the EX-Pows and give them special medical and psychological care as they get older.

This logic remains loyal to Denys Zalizko, an old 21 -year -old Pow, who has returned to Ukraine for less than three months but is already sure that his healing will take long time.

“You can’t fool yourself. Even if you really want, you will never forget. It will always bother you,” he said.

Being an artist

Zalizko survived torture, suicide attempts and relentless beatings for about 15 months in Russian captivity.

After his mother Maria Zalizko was released for the first time, she saw her, barely recognized her. He was weak, and “fracture” appeared, dedi he said with torment in his eyes.

Zalizko’s physical appearance is now almost completely different. The skin looks healthy, the muscles are tense and have a lot of energy. But still there is sadness in his eyes.

Two things continue to move forward and help to clean up your mind: music and exercise.

“Stops and stagnation brings concern, Z Zalizko says.

Like Tarnavskyi, he receives compulsory consultancy at Lisova Polyana Mental Health Center. And like many old powers, it is still fighting hypervigil – listening to the threats, scanning the surroundings. At night, sleep comes in pieces, and this was true even before an increase in the Russian army’s night drone attacks.

The re -integration process for Pow families is also a struggle.

A psychologist advised Maria Zalizko to avoid looking for her son very often. But Denys, who often seeks him, sometimes singing by phone – a skill he taught him as a child.

Orum I love music. The music is unite, ”he said, touching the tattoo of a treble intelligence that was ink after returning. Even under captivity, he quietly sang himself, composed songs about love, home and war in his mind. Now he dreams of turning this passion into a career as an artist.

“Now I’m getting stronger, Z Zalizko said. “I’m not afraid of death, I’m not afraid to lose a arm or leg, I’m not afraid to die instantly. I’m no longer afraid.”