As the Russian army occupied their city, being a male civilian became especially perilous, a reality starkly illustrated by the chilling images from Bucha showing the bodies of young men found with their hands bound. Mikita Horbans and his fellow captive Volodimir returned home traumatized, bearing the physical scars of torture, having lost 30 kilograms and suffering from PTSD. Despite their ordeal, they survived, highlighting the grim reality of war for civilians caught in the crossfire.

Mikita, who was 31 years old at the onset of Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, was a student and worked at a hospital in Andriyivka, Kyiv region. He recounts how he and his family took refuge in a basement, waiting for the conflict to subside. Their attempt to step outside after a period of quiet was met with a harrowing scene; they encountered three armed soldiers, marking the beginning of their nightmare. This experience underscores the ever-present dangers faced by civilians in a war zone, particularly men of military age.

The testimony of Mikita and Volodimir shines a light on the broader implications of the conflict in Ukraine, where the indiscriminate targeting of civilians raises serious ethical concerns surrounding warfare practices and the treatment of prisoners. Their story serves as a sobering reminder of the realities of military occupation and the long-lasting psychological and physical impacts it inflicts on individuals, especially in a volatile environment such as Ukraine during the ongoing war.