In Mariupol, a key point in eastern Ukraine, a male Ukrainian soldier who was taken prisoner of the Russian army after a fierce battle spoke to NHK about the treatment he received from the Russian side.
The interviewee was a 25-year-old male soldier of the Ukrainian Navy who was released as a prisoner of war in April.
The man was fighting at a steel mill in Mariupol, but in early April, when fierce battles continued, he was taken prisoner on the Russian side and transferred to Donetsk Oblast.
He broke his pelvis and chin during the battle and suffered serious injuries such as blinding his left eye, but after being taken prisoner he was mostly treated by the Russian side. It means that it wasn't.
He also said that he was constantly under scrutiny and was informed of Russian news daily.
After being detained for more than two weeks, the man was released in exchange for Russian soldiers in late April and is currently being treated at a hospital in Ukraine.
The man said, "We are fighting to protect Ukraine and many soldiers are taken prisoner. Remember them. Please help us to get the soldiers back." He appealed to the international community for support.
Russia's state-run Tass news agency reports that more than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered in Mariupol last month and were taken prisoner of war by Russian troops were transferred to Russia.
The Ukrainian side is demanding the exchange of prisoners of war, but negotiations appear to be difficult.