In March, franceinfo interviewed Katerina Plechistova during a report in Ukraine. Two months later, the 25-year-old woman contacted us again to announce that her husband’s release.
Together, again, finally. Katerina Plechistova received, in May, the call she was no longer expecting. At the end of the line: swe marry Oleg, veteran of the Azovstal factory in Mariupol, released from Russian jails after 349 days in captivity. “It was unthinkable, unimaginable”confides to franceinfo the young woman of 25 years.
We had met Katerina Plechistova while reporting from Ukraine in March. At the time, she agreed to show us the diary she was keeping while awaiting the release of her “Dear”. “Every day, I send him moments of my life on Telegram. I record voice messages, photos, videos…”, she testified then. From the shadow of captivity to the light of liberation, the young woman recounts these unexpected reunions from kyiv.
Franceinfo: How did you learn that your husband had been released?
Katerina Plechistova: It was a few days ago. He called me around 3:20, 3:30. I picked up the phone and he said: “Honey, I have returned to Ukraine”. I shouted for joy in the street. He burst into tears and so did I. My first words were: “I was waiting for you so much”. My husband was exchanged along with 45 other people. Jimmediately recognized his voice, and it was delicious.
How did your reunion go?
I was afraid of not recognizing him. All our guys who come out of captivity have another face, another look. They lose weight too. My husband lost 15 kilos, some of his brothers in arms lost 45.
The day of our reunion, I brought him his favorite chocolate bars, Kinder Bueno. I ran up to him. I still have goosebumps.
How is he ?
He’s not allowed to speak yet. He spent several days in hospital treatment. He got out a few days ago. To be honest, we didn’t expect his discharge to come so quickly, as he still needs treatment and medical supervision. I am with him everyday. In the morning, his day begins with a medical examination, then the military authorities continue to collect information on his captivity.
Precisely, what did he tell you about his conditions of detention?
I have no right to divulge these details, as many of my husband’s close friends are still in captivity. He was first locked up in Yelenovka (about 200 km north of Luhansk), before being transferred to Taganrog (in the Rostov region).
When the jailers learn that those who have been released are talking about torture, those who are still in captivity suffer twice as much. My husband experienced it.
Katerina Plechistovaat franceinfo
I can only tell you one thing: it was terrible.
And after a few days together, how do you feel?
Today we are together in kyiv. The first days were complicated for both of us. Emotionally, it’s difficult. For a year, we lived without each other. It’s a mix of feelings: on the one hand there’s incredible joy, and on the other there’s utter pain over everything that’s happened, and how it’s affected us. At the moment we are looking for a good psychiatrist for Oleg.
And you ?
I am accompanied by a psychologist, and I continue to take antidepressants. The return to normal life is gradual. Daily activities help to recover and resume the thread of life. Going to the store, chatting with friends… Now everything is new for him, he has to get back in touch with life.
How do you see the future?
One of our main common goals is to take care of our health, both mental and physical. Because she suffered for both of us. It won’t be like before. We’ll see as time goes on. Now the most important priority in his life is a family, he really wants children.
In March, you showed us the diary you kept. Did you show him?
Indeed, every day, I sent him on Telegram moments of my life. I recorded voice messages, photos, videos… But morally, it’s difficult for him to read that. He looked at only a few messages and he stopped. It hurts him to see my pain, he told me he wasn’t ready yet.
Will he have to return to service in the army?
According to Ukrainian law, he cannot completely leave military service. Therefore, after his treatment, after his rehabilitation, he will go back to fighting.
During his captivity, you told us of the hope aroused by each announcement of exchanges of soldiers, and finally, the disappointment. What message would you like to send to relatives who are still waiting for a son or a husband?
My message for these women, these mothers, these wives, these sisters, is: “Fight! Fight for their lives, never give up, do your best. And those hugs, those kisses will eventually come true.”