“You say that you are a musician, and this irritates them so much that they beat you even more”: a Ukrainian saxophonist spoke about life in captivity in Russia

Yuriy Merkotan is a saxophonist who enlisted in the National Guard of Ukraine in 2020 to play in a military band. In February 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, Yuri, like the other 15 members of the group, was called up to fight. A month later, the musician was caught in the blockade of the city of Mariupol and, together with more than two thousand Ukrainians, was taken captive to Russia.

Yuri was released in January of this year and, in an interview with the publication The keepersays he was physically and psychologically attacked and that he lost about 60 kilograms during his 20 months in prison.

“I tried to explain that I’m a musician, but it didn’t work. You say that you’re a musician, and it irritates them so much that they irritate you even more,” Yuri explained.

The musician said that at first he and other prisoners were taken to exhume the bodies of those killed in the explosions in Mariupol. During this period, Yuri Merkotan felt ill several times, suffered from diarrhea and was almost unable to eat. He was later blindfolded and transported to a Russian prison, where he was prohibited from sitting or lying down between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm. Moreover, I always listened to the same radio programs. Mercotan also mentioned The keeper who was attacked by guards with batons and sometimes with a stun gun. During his time in captivity, the musician was transferred from prison several times.

In addition to physical attacks, the saxophonist said that prisoners were forced to read poetry apologizing and humiliating Ukraine.

“Without Russia there is no Ukraine. It is useless, like a lock without a key,” recalls Yuri, quoting lines from the poem.

According to The keeperSeveral Ukrainian human rights groups have reported identical testimony from several prisoners held captive in Russia.