A 24-year-old Ukrainian policewoman was “starved, beaten and abused” as a prisoner of war by [Russian forces](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/), her mother said as she was released after two years in captivity.
On Friday, Ms Checheliuk was released in a prisoner exchange, after enduring years of severe mistreatment, including being starved, beaten and abused. She appeared frail as she finally arrived back on Ukrainian soil in tears.
In her first phone call to her family after being released, Ms Checheliuk said: “Mummy, I’m home.”
Her mother replied: “My lovely and dear sunshine, we finally got this day.”
We will keep supporting Ukrainian Heroes as long as necessary! 💙💛
This photo should be on the cover of EVERY magazine and newspaper around the world… in a moment of absolute freedom; Ms. Checheliuk’s face tells all anyone should ever need to know about russia and the true cost of FREEDOM! I only hope that Ms. Checheliuk knows there are MILLIONS of people around the world who would gladly bear some of her pain, so that she may once again smile and find happiness. SLAVA UKRAINI, HEROIAM SLAVA!
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***The Telegraph reports:***
A 24-year-old Ukrainian policewoman was “starved, beaten and abused” as a prisoner of war by [Russian forces](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/), her mother said as she was released after two years in captivity.
Maryana Checheliuk, an investigator with the National Police of Ukraine, was taken prisoner after being caught up in the siege of [Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/05/20/azovstal-steelworks-mariupol-images-capture-soldiers-final-moments-inside/).
Her full story was recounted to [The Telegraph magazine](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/24/ukraine-russia-war-anniversary-mariupol-family-separated/) by her family last year, who told how she had been forced through a Russian filtration camp and then blocked from returning home.
On Friday, Ms Checheliuk was released in a prisoner exchange, after enduring years of severe mistreatment, including being starved, beaten and abused. She appeared frail as she finally arrived back on Ukrainian soil in tears.
In her first phone call to her family after being released, Ms Checheliuk said: “Mummy, I’m home.”
Her mother replied: “My lovely and dear sunshine, we finally got this day.”
***Read more:*** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/06/02/starved-beaten-ukrainian-policewoman-returns-home/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/06/02/starved-beaten-ukrainian-policewoman-returns-home/)
We will keep supporting Ukrainian Heroes as long as necessary! 💙💛
This photo should be on the cover of EVERY magazine and newspaper around the world… in a moment of absolute freedom; Ms. Checheliuk’s face tells all anyone should ever need to know about russia and the true cost of FREEDOM! I only hope that Ms. Checheliuk knows there are MILLIONS of people around the world who would gladly bear some of her pain, so that she may once again smile and find happiness. SLAVA UKRAINI, HEROIAM SLAVA!