To feel what is Ukrainian in captivity of the Russian Federation: the participants of the conference in Montreal heard stories from the direct victims of the aggressor

And also about the issues of crimes that remain unpunished, ”Daria Zarivna said at the beginning of the panel. She stressed that during this panel the participants of the conference would hear the testimony of people who were lucky enough to survive in a Russian terror car. “I would like you not only to hear from us, but also to feel what is Ukrainian in Russian captivity.

After all, besides the physical, you feel strong psychological pressure on your mind, mentality, ”said Maxim Kolesnikov, who spent more than 10 months in captivity since March 2022. He said that they were beaten in prison, they were starving. The most difficult period was when prisoners were forbidden to even talk to each other, forced to stand for hours. Maxim Kolesnikov urged to fight for the release of one of his brothers, who is still in captivity. His life is in danger.

Kateryna Esipenko shared the history of her husband, journalist Vladislav Esipenko, who worked in Crimea as a freelance correspondent of the Crimea Reality (Radio Svoboda). It was detained by the FSB of Russia in March 2021. Vladislav is one of 30 journalists who are held captive by the occupiers. “This winter is the fourth year of his illegal imprisonment. After the detention, it was tortured by electric current to obtain false testimony, ”Kateryna Esipenko said.

She stressed that her husband was "guilty" only that she informed the world about the situation in the occupied Crimea. “He knew that it was dangerous to do it. But his dedication to his country and the truth was stronger than fear. And his business deserves the highest attention of the world leaders, ”the wife of a prisoner journalist said.

The Ukrainian paramedic and volunteer Yulia Payevskaya (Tyra), who was captured in 2022 and after three months of imprisonment, was released through diplomatic efforts and support of the world community, described the audience what a current was. “This is when your muscles are too tense. When your back bends like a bow. This is when your joints seem to bend in the opposite direction when the ligaments are about to break. When breathing is taken, the heart beats so quickly that it will stop.

This is when you shout, shout, yell, and it lasts for hours, ”she explained. Yulia Payevskaya noted that in this way she wanted to knock out confessions in crimes she had never committed, and on the contrary - took care of the wounded, including even Russians. Paramedic also spoke about other methods of physical and psychological pressure, including depriving prisoners of vital medicines and horrific conditions of maintenance.