More than two thousand Ukrainian soldiers who defended Mariupol are being held in Russian captivity. The prisoners are in dire conditions. Some people don’t have access to the right amount of food, running water or medicine. The Russian side also makes it difficult to obtain information. Their loved ones live only in the hope of one day meeting their brother, husband, father, grandfather, family member or friend.

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Just like Mrs. Katia from Mariupol. She and her family are still waiting for news from Leonid, a soldier who fought to defend the Azovstal factories and who has been in Russian captivity for more than six months.

There was supposed to be a pension – there was a call to fight

Before the war, Mr. Leonid worked for eight years as a lifeguard in the Ministry of Emergency Situations. – Over the years, he has saved many people, children. Some parents wrote to the newspapers to thank him for his help. There was also a case when dad rescued a cat from the rubble of a burning house – Katia, daughter of Leonid, told Gazeta.pl.

After many years of work, Mr. Leonid had to leave his post at the ministry due to his age. In 2019, he was admitted to the Ukrainian state border guards. He was due to retire this fall. – He wanted to go fishing and play with his grandchildren. But this bloody war decided otherwise. February 24 – terrible Thanks for all Ukrainians – he adds.

Ms. Katia and her family live in Mariupol, a city that was badly damaged during the invasion. During the conversation, he remembers the day of the Russian attack.

– Our city began under fire at four in the morning. The phone rang, my father was called back to work, so we learned that the war had started. He got ready and got to work. Initially, we kept in touch with my father, he called mom once every two days. It was so peaceful to hear his voice. Unfortunately, we soon found ourselves in the occupied territory, so there was no contact with my father – says the Ukrainian woman.

One day, Mr. Leonid called Katia’s sister. In the earpiece, the woman only heard: “I’m calling to say goodbye, to tell my mother that I love her very much. – My sister didn’t have the courage to tell us about this confession. About three days after we left the occupation and arrived at my sister’s house, my mother’s phone rang. An important name flashed on the screen. Then we heard my father’s voice. He did not reveal his location to us, we only knew that he was in Mariupol – she continued.

Ms. Katia told us that her dad’s text messages come in once a week or two. – There were messages with a short: “I live, I love everyone”. After those words, the world, which was black and white, shimmered in bright colors, he said.

Mr. Leonid has never given any information about his whereabouts or his state of health.

“We are not leaving here alive. I love you all very much.”

One night she was awakened by a call from her father. In the receiver, she heard: “We will not leave this place alive. Enemy planes above us. There is no way out. I love you all very much.” – To this I replied: “It will be fine, dad”, to which he replied: “My daughter, if you have a son, give him my name, so that the memory of me will remain”. This ended the telephone conversation. Need I say we cried? Not! We sobbed. We couldn’t believe our ears. It was then that it became apparent where my father was. He was in Azovstal – Mrs. Katia tells us.

For a woman, any information about an attack on the plant was very painful and terrifying. It was terrifying to watch the news, to listen to more information. One day she noticed her father in one of the photos posted on the Internet. – We spread on social networks the information about the unlocking of the city, and then about the rescue of our soldiers who were surrounded by the enemy in the factories of Azovstal. However, it turned out otherwise. The evacuation has started. It turned into real slavery, which has now lasted six months, says the Ukrainian.

Appeal from a Ukrainian woman: We want to save my father, bring him back to life

– We don’t know where my father is, if he’s fine because he has health problems. We have no information and special organizations cannot provide it to us. It is very difficult for us now. We are dead, we only exist. Life has stopped, the world has turned gray. We think of our father every second. We want to save my father as soon as possible, bring him back to life, so we knock on every door, begging for help – he adds.

On October 24, Mr. Leonid celebrates his birthday. Her daughter hopes to spend the day with her family. – We always had a happy feast with a delicious cake. […] His grandchildren expect a lot from their grandfather. The eldest is nine years old, the youngest is three. They say: “Our grandfather protects everyone,” he says.

Mr. Leonid’s grandchildren are still waiting for their grandfather. They hope that on this special day they can make wishes and show cards. – We look forward to his return. We are waiting to see my father’s happy smile and beloved eyes – he says enthusiastically.

The Russians liberated some of Mariupol’s defenders. “We had high hopes that he would be replaced”

On September 22, as part of a prisoner of war exchange, Russia released 215 imprisoned Ukrainians. Mr. Leonid was not among them. However, his family still hopes to be replaced as soon as possible.

– We were hoping that they would call us and tell us that our father had been replaced and that he is already in Ukraine. It was painful that this did not happen – summarizes the Ukrainian.

Unfortunately, Mr. Leonid’s family still has no information about the man’s health. The Russian side does not provide any information. All organizations deliver the same message. The prisoner exchange process is taking too long because Russia does not want to accept it.