Oleg Moskalenko celebrates March 14 as his second birthday. It was the day when he came to the Ukrainian checkpoint in 2022 after a week imprisonment with Russians. He recently testified in the International Criminal Court in the Hague within the investigation of the Russian crimes in Ukraine. In March, 2022, CNN covered Oleg Moskalenko’s story. This year University World News published his report together with the testimonies provided by the other Ukrainian educators who were detained and tortured by Russians. Tortures resulted in serious health issues – stroke, multiple surgeries and amputation of the frostbitten feet.

After the invasion started, Oleg Moskalenko together with his neighbours organized self defense unit in Severynivka, a village in Kyiv region. “We thought we could defend ourselves,” he said. On March 1, three Russians came up to the village, but they were not allowed into it. However, on the next day Russians shelled Severynivka with mine-throwers and other weaponry. So, Oleg decided to move to a safer place. When the column of civilian cars reached the motorway, it was crammed with destroyed Russian tanks. It took them four hours to move for 10 – 15 kilometers because they had to clear the way. Oleg took his family to the border and returned home. On his way he had to stop to clear the way but soon understood that it was a trap. - I quickly understood that the situation is very bad. Armed Russians were close by, and they were targeting me. When I stepped out of the car, they put the sack on my head and handcuffs. After that they started beating me, Oleg witnessed. Russians took him through the field where he lost his footwear. That’s why his feet were frostbitten. He had the T-shirt and pants on, but Russians cut his cloths to prevent his escape. On March 7 afternoon they started beating the confession of aiming out of Oleg. - The beating was brutal. They were killing, not talking, he recollected. Then they placed him in the pit, tortured, beat and threatened to kill him. he was fainting all the time. Besides, russians were furious because of the national flag on his T-shirt. Oleg tried to explain that he was a professor, not a military. When the Russians understood that they cannot make Oleg confess, they took him to their bosses.

- There they put the sack on my head and tied me up to a tree. They were discussing loudly what they were going to do with me. They promised to kill me if I do not confess. I told him to shoot because I could not add up any new information. They did so but bullets went close by. I fainted again. When I got conscious again, they promised to cut my fingers if I do not confess. So, they started cutting, Oleg told us. He calls his injured hands his calling card and evidence of Russian atrocities. - At first, I could not discuss my captivity. Then I pulled myself together and started explaining that Russians interrogations mean tortures. They do not care who they deal with. People from the West do not understand the situation as we do. When a journalist interviewed me about tortures, he asked if Russians were applying bandages after they had cut my fingers off. People do not understand how barbaric they are. Frost prevented from died from blood loss. When I came to my senses in the basement, I was shocked how my hands stank. I told the guard to either kill me or call the doctor. After two hours, they throw me and another captive to the forest to die, Oleg shared his memories with us. It was March 13. They were disoriented, could not walk properly or stay consious for long. Pavlo, another person thrown to die found a small house. They managed to lit up the stove and warm up a little. On the next day, they were looking for the ways to find medical help. They were lucky to find beaten but working car. However, they risked coming across Russian checkpoints. “We decided that Pavlo would tell Russians that I was practically dead and if they wanted to bother with digging me down, they could detain us, Oleg said.

On March 14, at approximately lunch time, they drove to the Ukrainian checkpoint in Byshiv. Oleg was in a very bad condition. He was sent to Fastiv near Kyiv and then to Germany via Romania. There he received treatment and rehabilitation. But the healing process was long. His hands and feet recovered by the end of year. Then he and his wife came back to Kyiv. After that, Oleg took part in the investigation of the Russian war crimes. He saw the remains of his car and clothes. He says that the State Bureau of Investigation works very professionally, and they even started to identify the culprits. - One of those who guarded me was captured near Kherson. When he was telling about his time in Ukraine, he recollected “a bold aimer close to Kyiv” who they captured there and tortured. For the SBI it was a starting point. It was difficult for me to go with the detective to the place of events, Oleg recollects. The prosecutor at the ICC asked him about his idea of justice. One of Oleg’s ideas is to see Putin in the court in the Hague. “The handcuffs were tight and injured me. I want to see Putin in handcuffs that scratch his hands,” he said.