Oleksandr Strafun, a Ukrainian soldier who was captured by the Russian army in 2022, shared photos of himself taken before and after he was freed three years after his imprisonment. The changes in his appearance shocked internet users.
The soldier’s photos were shared by Olena Zolotariova, from the NGO Power of People. Oleksandr appears alongside his wife in both images.
In one of them, he has a healthier face, dark hair and beard, and appears to have more weight.
In the post-release photo, also with his wife, Oleksandr’s facial bones are clearly visible, his beard is gone, and his head is shaved. He had also lost a significant amount of weight.
The images went viral and sparked discussions about the conditions faced by prisoners held by Russian forces.
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Reports from the UN and other human rights watchdogs stated that Ukrainian prisoners held in Russian captivity were subjected to widespread and systematic torture.
Oleksandr joined the defense of Ukraine on February 25, 2022. He spoke to his wife for the last time on March 1 of that year. He asked her to bring him soap and socks, but that never happened.
He was reportedly captured during Russian attacks on Mariupol. Oleksandr was later seen at the Olenivka penal colony in the Donetsk region.
He also survived an explosion that occurred at the prison. Around 50 Ukrainian prisoners were killed, and more than 70 were injured.
Photos: X @MamedovGyunduz. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
