Ukrainian Journalist Dmytro Khyliuk's Harrowing Three-Year Captivity in Russia

Tue Oct 21 2025 05:41:12 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Dmytro Khyliuk, a Ukrainian journalist, reflects on his release from a Russian prison after three and a half years of mistreatment without any charges, highlighting the ongoing plight of civilians in the conflict.

Dmytro Khyliuk, released from a Russian prison after three and a half years of captivity, recalls the brutality he endured and his desperate efforts to reconnect with the families of fellow prisoners. His story underscores the broader issue of civilian detentions in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Since his release from a Russian prison, Dmytro Khyliuk has barely been off the phone. The Ukrainian journalist was detained by Russian forces in the first days of their full-scale invasion. Three and a half years later he's been released in a prisoner swap, one of eight civilians freed in a surprise move.

While Russia and Ukraine have swapped military prisoners of war before, it is very rare for Russia to release Ukrainian civilians.

Dmytro has been catching up frantically on all he's missed. But he's also phoning the families of every Ukrainian he met in captivity: he memorised all their names and each detail.

He knows that for some, his call may be the first confirmation that their relative is alive.

The welcome home

There were celebrations when Dmytro was returned from Russia in a group of 146 Ukrainians. A crowd waved blue and yellow flags, cheering as the buses carrying the freed men passed by.

Typically, most on board were soldiers, emaciated after their years behind bars. However, the circumstances that led to Dmytro's freedom remain uncertain.

Constant cruelty

Dmytro shared chilling details of his captivity, recalling how he was beaten and mistreated, being held without any charges. They grabbed us and literally dragged us to the prison and on the way they beat us with rubber batons, he explained.

His parents' fear

Dmytro's family home is a world away from the horrors he experienced, yet remnants of conflict linger. During the early days of the invasion, he and his father were detained by Russian troops as they tried to assess the damage to their home.

Ukraine's missing

As many as 16,000 civilians are currently reported missing amid the conflict, with only a fraction located. Dmytro's return has reignited hope for families still waiting for news of their loved ones held captive.

Dmytro's story illustrates not just his personal struggle, but the broader issue faced by many civilians caught in the conflict: the uncertainty, fear, and trauma that comes with being detained without charge.