Ukrainian Soldier Survives 2 Weeks in Russian Dugout, Returns With Captor

A Ukrainian corporal endured captivity, psychological pressure, and near starvation before managing to signal his unit and walk out alive. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A part of the trench for Ukrainian soldiers is seen near Lyman, eastern Ukraine, on April 28, 2022, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google A Ukrainian soldier survived nearly two weeks trapped in a dugout with a Russian soldier who had taken him captive.  In a report that ran on Sunday, May 3, The Guardian , Vadym Lietunov, a 34-year-old corporal from Odesa, tells of his experience behind enemy lines after his own dugout was destroyed by a Russian drone strike in late February. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . His position had been under constant attack for days, with Russian forces targeting it using drones and mortars. After one strike destroyed the shelter and killed his fellow soldier, Lietunov fled, hoping to reach Ukrainian lines. Instead, he ran into another dugout – only to realize too late it belonged to a Russian soldier. “I heard his accent and understood immediately,” Lietunov said, recalling how he entered the shelter unarmed and found himself facing an automatic rifle. The Russian soldier, identified as “Nikita,” initially told him he would be released the next day. Instead, he kept him at gunpoint in a cramped underground space for nearly two weeks. Lietunov described his captor as a former prisoner and drug user who had been sent to the front. According to him, the man believed Kremlin propaganda that Ukrainian soldiers carried drugs and GPS trackers, and searched Lietunov’s belongings for both. Life inside the dugout was harsh. The two men received minimal food – about 250 grams of rations dropped daily by drone – and only small amounts of water. Lietunov said his captor frequently complained about hunger and conditions in the Russian army, including having to drink rainwater or worse. Other Topics of Interest Return No. 7 From Ukraine – The Rational Power of a Great Nation The Inevitable Demise of a Pathetic Country: Russia The Russian soldier’s behavior was unpredictable.  “He would put a gun to my forehead and say he would kill me, then suddenly calm down,” Lietunov said, describing extreme mood swings. Realizing he had no chance of escaping by force, Lietunov said he relied on psychology, pretending to be less capable and avoiding actions that might provoke his captor. At one point, as his condition worsened and one of his toes turned black, he even asked to be shot outside so his body could be recovered. Meanwhile, his brigade believed he was likely dead, informing his family accordingly. His wife, however, continued to hold out hope that he was alive. After days of captivity, Lietunov saw an opportunity when the two stepped outside in fog. Spotting a Ukrainian drone, he placed a sign with his call sign and brigade number, trying to signal his identity. At first, Ukrainian forces mistook both men for enemy soldiers and sent a strike drone. The attack was called off only after commanders verified Lietunov’s identity through his social media. Contact was eventually established, and drones began delivering food, water, and a radio. Lietunov said he deliberately shared his rations with his captor to keep him calm. The situation ended when a Ukrainian armored vehicle reached the position. Despite earlier hesitation, the Russian soldier surrendered without resistance. Lietunov, who lost a toe and is now recovering, described his survival as “a one-in-a-million chance.” Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.