In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the psychological toll on families of Ukrainian soldiers is not just limited to fear of injury or death. Russia has resorted to a disturbing tactic: using captured soldiers’ families as leverage to encourage acts of sabotage or espionage against Ukraine.
Svitlana, a Ukrainian woman whose husband, Dima, was captured by Russian forces, became a target of this coercion. For over two years, she anxiously awaited news of his captivity. Then, out of the blue, she received a call from a man named Dmitry, who made a chilling proposition. If Svitlana agreed to commit treason by sabotaging military targets, including setting fire to railway stations or revealing the locations of vital air defense systems, her husband could receive better treatment in prison or even early release.
Despite the pressure, Svitlana knew better than to fall for the Russian scheme. She reported the threat to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), who advised her to stall the Russians while they investigated. The SBU encouraged her to continue the charade of agreeing to carry out the sabotage, capturing crucial evidence in the process.
The threat from Dmitry escalated after Svitlana declined to cooperate. He accused her of causing her husband’s torture, intensifying her emotional torment. But the SBU’s support proved invaluable, reminding her that any collaboration with the Russians would only worsen Dima’s situation, not help him.
Svitlana’s story is not unique. According to the Ukrainian military’s Prisoners of War Headquarters, nearly half of all families of POWs are contacted by Russian agents, exploiting their vulnerability. However, the authorities have been working diligently to educate the public on the dangers of such cooperation, emphasizing that it can lead to charges of treason and life imprisonment.
Despite the immense pressure, Svitlana’s resilience paid off when her husband was released after more than two years in captivity. The couple’s reunion was filled with overwhelming joy, a testament to the strength of love and patriotism in the face of relentless adversity.
