Former Ukrainian prisoners of war, including Huan Leyva-García, detailed their harrowing experiences of torture and inhumane treatment while held in Russian captivity. In a testimony at the Saxon State Parliament in Dresden, they revealed that systematic cold and hunger were used as weapons to break their spirits. Leyva-García shared that many of his friends in captivity faced extreme abuse and some even attempted suicide due to the unbearable conditions imposed by their captors.

Leyva-García, who had been studying in the USA when Russia invaded Ukraine, returned home to defend his city, Mariupol. He was captured and spent over three years in various Russian detention facilities, enduring daily torment and humiliation. He highlighted that the psychological effects of such treatment were profound, noting that the prisoners were often treated with extreme cruelty as if they were less than human.

Their accounts, shared in Germany, are crucial not only for raising awareness of the conditions faced by POWs in Russia but also to advocate for justice and accountability. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the treatment of its soldiers by Russian forces have significant implications for international law and the treatment of prisoners of war globally, making these testimonies vital for understanding the broader humanitarian crisis.