Ukrainian POWs return home: Emotional reunions capture nation's heart

More prisoners of war who were captured by the Russians in 2022 have returned to Ukraine. Many of them describe the harsh conditions they had to endure. One of the Ukrainians was visibly moved immediately after stepping off the bus.

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for two and a half years. During this time, hundreds of soldiers and civilians on both sides have been taken captive. Occasionally, due to the efforts of diplomats and allied countries, some are exchanged between the two nations. This was the case in the first half of July, when 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were taken captive in 2022 returned to Ukraine.

They endured torture during their captivity, as mentioned by one of them in a conversation with family, revealing that he had been "kicked in the ribs".

The overwhelming emotion was evident almost everywhere. Particularly poignant was the footage showing one of the prisoners wrapping himself in the Ukrainian flag and falling to his knees, crying, right after returning home. This moment was particularly significant, highlighting the trauma he had recently experienced.

The video featuring the Ukrainian prisoner of war has become a sensation online. Many commenters express their emotions and sympathy for what they endured in Russian captivity.

My heart breaks for them. What horrors did they go through? Thank God they're home.

My heart is with all of them and I am so happy they are home! I am crying along with this man and cannot imagine what they all went through. It shouldn’t be this way!

This simply tears my heart apart, and I wonder what he had to endure during his captivity.