True War Crime

The Blackout

True War Crime is a podcast by Michael Duncan, a journalist and war veteran. After witnessing a prisoner exchange in 2022, he began documenting the stories of Ukrainians who survived Russian captivity. Through personal testimonies, the podcast reveals the human cost of Russia’s war and why these stories must be heard.

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  1. −5 d

    They thought I was someone very important | Ruslan Odaiskyi | Episode 9

    Before 2022, Ruslan Odaiskyi was a merchant ship captain who traveled the world. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he left that life behind and volunteered to defend his country. Captured by Russian forces, Ruslan endured brutal torture and a long journey through captivity. Yet inside the prison cell, he became a source of hope for the other prisoners. Drawing on memories of the countries he had visited and the people he had met around the world, he transported his fellow captives beyond the prison walls—if only through stories. His testimony is a story of resilience, friendship, and the power of hope, even in the darkest moments. These are not stories inspired by real events. These are real events. Thank you for supporting True War Crime. Your support helps preserve the testimonies of those who survived Russian captivity and ensures their stories are heard around the world.

  2. 1 aug.

    No matter what I never gave them our Radio code | Andriy Stratiichuk| Episode 8

    Andrii Stratiichuk is a former Ukrainian police officer who volunteered to defend Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Captured during combat, he was taken into the Russian prison system, where he discovered a disturbing reality: Russian criminals have legal rights. Ukrainian prisoners of war have virtually none. Because Andrii had a Trident tattoo—Ukraine's national emblem—he became a target for especially brutal beatings. During interrogations, Russian guards repeatedly staged mock executions, trying to break him psychologically. This episode reveals how violence, humiliation, and fear are used as systematic tools against Ukrainian POWs. These are not stories inspired by real events. These are real events.

  3. 25 juli

    I Love Horror Movies... But I Wasn't Ready for This | Tom Dychok | Episode 7

    This is Episode 7 of True War Crime — a series of firsthand testimonies from people who survived Russian captivity. Our guest is Tom Dychok, an ethnic Pole who lived and worked in Poland for five years before Russia's full-scale invasion. After being captured, Tom endured relentless physical and psychological abuse. His captors shot him through both palms, tortured him, and tried to break his spirit. Instead, his Catholic faith became stronger. In one of the Russian prisons, Ukrainian prisoners were forced to build coffins for Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine—using wooden crates that had originally carried Grad multiple rocket launcher ammunition. This is one man's story of survival, faith, and the disturbing reality hidden behind the walls of Russia's prison system. These are not stories inspired by real events. These are real events.

  4. 2 juli

    Inside Russia's Darkest Corners | Yulii Pylypei | Episode 6

    This is Episode 6 of True War Crime — a series of real stories from people who survived Russian captivity. Our guest, Yulii Pylypei, spent 2.5 years in Russian prisons. To survive psychologically, he held on to one simple dream: traveling with his wife once he was free. Despite being an ordinary soldier defending his country, Yulii says prison guards treated him worse than a convicted child rapist serving a 17-year sentence. His testimony offers a rare glimpse into some of the darkest corners of Russia's prison system — where brutality, humiliation, and psychological pressure became part of everyday life. These are not stories inspired by real events.

  5. 19 juni

    "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans" | Yevhenii Malik | Episode 5

    This is Episode 5 of True War Crime — a series of real stories from people who survived Russian captivity. When Yevhenii Malik was captured, an unexpected image came to his mind — a scene from Lethal Weapon, where Mel Gibson's character is suspended by his arms before being tortured. What seemed like a movie scene became reality. Yevhenii went through the hell of Russian prisons and torture chambers. In this episode, he speaks openly and without censorship about what happened to him, what he witnessed, and how he survived. Some stories sound too brutal to be true. Unfortunately, these are not scenes from a movie.

  6. 4 juni

    3.5 Years in Russian Captivity Without a Single Charge | Serhii Akhmetov | Episode 4

    This is Episode 4 of True War Crime — a series of real stories from people who survived Russian captivity. Our guest is Serhii Akhmetov, a Ukrainian civilian who spent more than 3.5 years in Russian prisons. During all that time, he was never formally charged with any crime. No trial. No sentence. No legal justification for his imprisonment. Yet he remained in captivity for years. His story is a powerful reminder that Russian captivity is not limited to soldiers. Civilians can also disappear into the prison system, deprived of their rights, freedom, and any form of due process. This is not a story based on real events. These are real events.

  7. 20 maj

    “Cyborg” Defender of Donetsk Airport | Oleksandr Avramenko 1152 Days in Russian captivity | Episode 3

    This is Episode 3 of True War Crime — real stories from people who survived Russian captivity. Our guest is Oleksandr Avramenko, a Ukrainian soldier known as one of the “Cyborgs” who defended Donetsk Airport in 2014–2015. He spent 1,152 days in captivity, moving through 12 different prisons. In those conditions, survival often depended on small acts of humanity — other regular prisoners shared cigarettes and "chefir" a strong prison tea. This is not a story based on real events. These are real events. Extended version (uncensored): available on Patreon — link in description Subscribe and turn on notifications to not miss the next episode

  8. 6 maj

    The harsh reality of captivity | Mykola Ivarlak (1,138 days in Russian prison)

    True War Crime

  9. 22 apr.

    Ukrainian POW story | 1,104 days in Russian captivity

    This is the first episode of True War Crime — a series of real stories from people who survived Russian captivity. Davyd Pradchenko spent 1,104 days in Russian prisons. He endured multiple “intake beatings,” lost over 40% of his body weight, and nearly lost his leg — yet he survived and is now telling his story. This is not a news report — it’s a firsthand account of what Russian captivity looks like. To watch an extended version (+20%) of this interview on our Patreon.

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Om

True War Crime is a podcast by Michael Duncan, a journalist and war veteran. After witnessing a prisoner exchange in 2022, he began documenting the stories of Ukrainians who survived Russian captivity. Through personal testimonies, the podcast reveals the human cost of Russia’s war and why these stories must be heard.

Information

  • Skapad av
    The Blackout
  • Aktiva år
    2026
  • Avsnitt
    9
  • Åldersgräns
    Vuxet innehåll
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Programmets webbplats
    True War Crime