Valery Zelensky, a 57-year-old Ukrainian soldier who spent 39 months in Russian captivity, died of severe injuries sustained during torture shortly after his release in May 2024. His daughter, Valeria Zelenka, confirmed that her father endured inhumane treatment while imprisoned and had hoped to reunite with his family and learn Ukrainian upon return. Zelensky was part of a major prisoner exchange deal, and his death has sparked new discussions about the harsh conditions in Russian prisons and the long-term effects of torture on returning POWs.
According to Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Zelensky was released as part of the landmark 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner deal on May 25. Just 22 days later, his heart stopped. His family did not immediately find out that he had been taken prisoner for some time, and he was considered missing in action. During his years in captivity, Zelensky’s family received only one letter. He had long appeared on prisoner exchange lists but did not return until this year.
Valeria said her father had been overjoyed to come home and meet his grandson for the first time. He also expressed a desire to learn Ukrainian after years of speaking Russian. Doctors initially treated him for suspected pancreatic issues, but his condition quickly deteriorated. During surgery, they discovered his organs were severely damaged. He died in intensive care days later.
"The torture was not just cruel, it was inhuman. But he endured it," his daughter told Suspilne. "He told me, 'Daughter, I endured it because of Kyokushin (a style of karate). I have discipline, I'm tough. My body and muscles protected me.'"
Valeria said her father had been overjoyed to come home and meet his grandson for the first time. He also expressed a desire to learn Ukrainian after years of speaking Russian. Doctors initially treated him for suspected pancreatic issues, but his condition quickly deteriorated. During surgery, they discovered his organs were severely damaged. He died in intensive care days later.
"My father told me, 'Three people died among us from torture. And when I was in a very bad state, I asked God: Please let me see the eyes of my beloved,'" his daughter said. A medical report listed extensive injuries. He had a non-functioning shoulder and arm and showed signs of multiple organ failures.
"The first feeling is inexhaustible pain that your loved one is no longer here. He was simply tortured," Valeria said. "And there is relief that he no longer feels that torture."
Zelensky’s return was part of a wider prisoner exchange agreed during a first round of direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul. The case is the latest in a number of Ukrainian soldiers’ deaths after their return from Russian captivity, highlighting the effects of "widespread and systematic" torture of prisoners of war (POWs) in Russian prisons, reported by the U.N.
Serhii Dobrovolskyi, a Ukrainian soldier who had been in Russian captivity since 2023, died just a month after his release at the end of May as part of a 1000-for-1000 prisoner swap, an official from the soldier’s home region announced on June 21. In 2023, a high-ranking officer from the "Azov" brigade, Oleh Mudrak, died at 35 years old, months after his release from Russian captivity. As a POW, he survived the Olenivka camp explosion and endured a dramatic weight loss in just 100 days, as seen in the photos published by Stanislav Aseyev, a Ukrainian writer and activist.
Dmytro Shapovalov, a 32-year-old defender of Ukraine who was exchanged in 2023 after over a year in Russian prisons, died on June 9, according to Suspilne. Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Russian captivity often face torture, abuse, and inhumane treatment, according to Ukrainian officials and human rights groups. Many former POWs have reported beatings, starvation, and psychological pressure.
The exact number of Ukrainians currently held by Russia remains unknown. Kyiv continues to call for a full all-for-all exchange. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the offer. The situation has sparked international condemnation and increased calls for accountability and justice for the treatment of POWs in Russia, with the Ukrainian government and human rights organizations continuing to document and report on the ongoing abuses.
As the war continues, the humanitarian crisis for Ukrainian POWs remains a growing concern. The Ukrainian military and civilian leadership have vowed to continue their efforts to secure the release of all remaining prisoners and to advocate for the rights and welfare of those who have been freed from captivity. The deaths of soldiers like Zelensky serve as a harrowing reminder of the brutal conditions faced by Ukrainian POWs in Russian custody and the long-term physical and psychological trauma that such experiences can inflict.