At the age of 21, Hanna from Odesa understands the drama of war better than anyone: her father and brother were captured by the Russians on Zmiiny Island on February 24, 2022. A man, also a military man, died in Zaporizhzhia in August 2023. In a video interview for HotNews.ro, a woman talks about the hope of seeing her relatives at home in the hands of the Russians.

On February 24, 2022, the day Russia started the war, several Ukrainian soldiers defending the Snake Island were captured. One of them became famous because, judging by the audio recording, he told the Russians, who asked them to defiantly surrender, “go to hell!”.

At the same time, the father and brother of Anna, a girl from Odesa, were captured. The woman, who is now 21 years old, also lost her husband last year, whom she married only a few months ago: Artem died under the bombardment of the Russian army in Zaporizhzhia.

HotNews.ro spoke with Hanna about the hope of seeing the two captives at home, in the context of several rallies in Kyiv and Odesa in support of Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia, due to which their relatives are demanding their release. .

What measures are currently being taken to release them, that is, the next group of prisoners?

Hanna: As early as February 24, 2022, I knew that he was in captivity. Actually, my father actually managed to call us and inform us about the hostage taking.

We were convinced of this on February 26, when we saw in the Russian media that they were being taken to Crimea by bus. Both father and brother are shot in the foreground. Then I realized that they were really alive and in captivity.

Are they both military?

Yes, both are military. My father has been in military service since 2014, and my brother since 2020.

Do you have an opportunity to learn something about their fate or health?

The only way to know anything about their condition is through the people they have been with so far. This is the only way we can get information about their condition.

Tell me, as far as possible, in what conditions they are kept, how do the Russian military, who are watching them, behave?

We are not told about it. They just said that everything is fine, they are alive. Father works there. He receives food, we do not know other details.

How does he work there? Do they require anything specific?

As for the brother, I don’t know the details. Father makes zippers for clothes.

Where exactly are they being held now?

In the Belgorod region, in Oleksiivka.

How to identify soldiers who will participate in the exchange of prisoners

Ukrainian soldiers after being released by the Russians after the exchange of prisoners. PHOTO: ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

We know that some of the prisoners on Zmeiny Island were released, that is, exchanged (no – with Russian prisoners). How does this process happen, how are those that need to be changed chosen?

Among those who defended Snake Island, 25 people are still in captivity. Most of them, thank God, have been changed in the last two years.

It was explained to us that our side is asking for everyone to be exchanged, and the Russian side decides who to let go and who not. We believe that (no – the reason why they were not released) is due to the fact that my father was a military man for a long time, since 2014, he was in the “autonomies” several times, he was in sniper. And my brother, who has been in military service since 2020, once was, if I’m not mistaken.

Correct me if this is not correct, but I saw demonstrations by relatives of those who defended Azovstal and who are now in captivity, did you participate in these actions?

Even if the action was organized by the relatives of “Azovstal” citizens, it was also supported by the relatives of other prisoners, it is not dedicated exclusively to “Azovstal”. It is about all the prisoners.

I understand correctly that there is such a request from citizens for the release of prisoners as soon as possible. What specific requests do you have and how do you think more can be done than is currently being done?

This is an attempt to draw the authorities’ attention to the fact that many defenders are still in captivity, including on Zmiiny Island and other units. We believe that such an approach can have an impact in a certain way: the authorities see that people demand it.

Do you think everything is being done for the exchange (no – captives)?

We understand that our government may not be doing everything that is possible, but for the most part it is making efforts to make this exchange happen. But both sides play an important role in the exchange negotiations.

I would also like to talk to you about Snake Island. What happened next?

When we talked to my father and brother on February 24 (2022 – no), they didn’t tell us anything about the bombing. However, later the boys, who were released, said that at that time they had been shelled all day, since the very morning. At the end of the day, when they had nothing to fight back, they were captured.

If you had the opportunity to address the Russians, this is a rhetorical question, what would you like to say to them?

I would argue that they should adhere to the provisions of the Geneva Convention regarding our prisoners. Other than that, I really don’t know what else to add as this is a very difficult question.

I would like to express this very clearly, but I believe that the most important thing is for the people of Russia to understand that this war does not matter to them. And that they go out to protest against the war, although I understand that it is impossible there and there will be no result.

You mentioned that in Russia there are protests by mothers and wives who oppose mobilization; in fact, they just want their husbands to come home. Do you see hope in these actions or do you think they will have no effect?

Yeah, I guess that doesn’t make sense. As far as I remember, at the beginning of the war on a large scale, in many cities of Russia, people went out for protests, but they were restrained. So.

How do you think this war should end? We would like to know your opinion as a resident of Ukraine who was directly affected by the consequences of this war.

Only with the victory of Ukraine and the restoration of all territories to the borders of 1991. This is necessary so that the death of all civilians and all military personnel is not in vain. Since I lost my husband in this war, we are only advocating a return to the 1991 borders, nothing more.

Would you not like to leave Ukraine?

no I am a person who loves my home very much. I really, really love Ukraine. It is better to die in one’s own land than to live in a foreign land. I lost my husband, as I told you, he is buried in my native village. I can’t leave him here.

Was your husband also on Zmiiny Island?

no My husband was mobilized in January 2023, fought in the Zaporozhye region and died during mortar fire.

Did he voluntarily go to the front?

The summons came. He said that he would not hide: “If they call me, I will go.”

How do you manage to remain a patriot even though you have gone through so much hardship?

I believe in our victory, I believe in the best, I have the support of relatives and friends. Let’s not forget that the military needs help; we must sacrifice as much as possible, support the army, and make every effort to get closer to victory.

There is a saying: “if the part behind the front forgets about the existence of the front, then the front will be where the districts behind the combat line are now.”

• Read also the testimony from the other side of the barricade: “If you start thinking about how good it would be to run away, you might just go crazy.” Interview with the wife of a Russian soldier on the front line in Ukraine about women’s protests, war and Vladimir Putin.