When Mariupol fell in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were captured. Among them was Rasti, a fighter with the Azov Brigade, who endured 30 months of torture and isolation in Russian captivity.

Despite severe physical and psychological scars, he has returned to the front line, now leading an elite reconnaissance unit formed by former POWs. For younger recruits, Rasti is both a commander and a stark reminder of the price of war.