Ukrainian POW Alleges Russian Medics Branded Him 'Glory to Russia' Under Anesthesia

A former Ukrainian prisoner of war, Andriy, has come forward alleging that Russian medics branded him with the words 'Glory to Russia' on his abdomen while he was under anesthesia during surgery. Andriy, who was recently released in a prisoner exchange, displayed the permanent mark, which he states was applied using an electrocoagulator, typically used for wart removal. Speaking about the incident, Andriy recounted being taken to a hospital shortly after his capture. 'They put me on an operating table to perform surgery,' he stated. Following the procedure, a female medic reportedly told him, 'Don't worry, when you get home, you can remove it or get a tattoo over it.' Andriy explained, 'I lifted my head from the pillow, just to look at my stomach, and there it was, 'Glory to Russia'.' He added, 'As far as I know, it was burned into my skin with a medical cautery tool. The surgeon did this to me, the same one who operated on me the first time.' Ukrainian medical professionals who have examined Andriy believe the branding was executed by a highly experienced surgeon due to the uniformity of the letters. Ukrainian authorities have reportedly narrowed their investigation to two Russian doctors suspected of involvement in the incident. This alleged act highlights concerns regarding the treatment of prisoners of war during the ongoing conflict.