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reporter: back home and free, they re greeted by friends and colleagues in kyiv. freedom for now is the drag of a cigarette, walking on home turf, even if they means using crutches. bags of food are handed out to the more than 80 former ukrainian p.o.w.s released in a prisoner exchange with russia. it s a welcome meal and a moment to decompress and reflect on what many here say was the physical and mental abuse they endured in russian custody. one p.o.w. named gleb says he was captured nearly a month ago while evacuating civilians. he was beaten by russian soldiers. translator: they hit me in the face with machine gun butts and kicked me. my front teeth were also chipped. reporter: anya and dasha were in the same unit. it was shelled by russian troops ....
In the same unit, it was shelled by russian troops who they say tried to break them. making them shout glory to russia, and they shaved their heads, telling them that it was for hygiene purposes. translator: maybe they were trying to break our spirit in some way. translator: it was a shock, but then we re strong girls, you know? reporter: dmytro says he was taken by russian soldiers in mariupol, and suffered daily beatings during his captivity. translator: they would beat us five to six times a day, for nothing. they would just take us into the hallway and beat us up. reporter: it is an ordeal and it will take time to heal, both mentally and physically. though many say they want to go back to their units and continue fighting. but before that, gleb shows us a slip of paper with what he says are the phone numbers of loved ones of prisoners still held captive by the russians. ....
Cnn s christiane amanpour has more. reporter: back home, and free, these former ukrainian prisoners of war once held by russian forces are greeted by friends and colleagues in kyiv. freedom for now is the drag of a cigarette, walking on home turf, even if that means using crutches. bags of food are handed out to the more than 80 former ukrainian p.o.w.s released in a prisoner exchange with russia. it is a welcome meal and a moment to decompress, and reflect on what many here say was the physical and mental abuse they endured in russian custody. one p.o.w. named gleb says he was captured nearly a month ago while evacuating civilians, he was beaten by russian soldiers. they hit me in the face with machine gun butts and kicked me. my front teeth were also ....
Throughout the invasion of ukraine, we ve seen lives turned upside down. we continue to hear countless stories of families forced to flee their homeland, even leaving behind loved ones. yeah. the u.n. estimates more than 4 million people have left their home country since the start of that war. one of those 4 million include this woman you re about to meet. she was able to escape kyiv with her two children and whatever they could carry. alessia joins us now from indianapolis with her daughter, solo and her son gleb. so nice to have you on the show. we appreciate your willingness to share your story. i know you have had quite a journey. alessia, tell us how did you ....
Cigarette, walking on home turf, even if that means using crutches. bags of food are handed out to the more than 80 former ukrainian p.o.w.s released in a prisoner exchange with russia. it s a welcome meal and a moment to decompress and reflect on what many here say was the physical and mental abuse they endured in russian custody. one p.o.w. named gleb says he was captured nearly a month ago while evacuating civilians. he was beaten by russian soldiers. translator: they hit me in the face with machine gun butts and kicked me. my front teeth were also chipped. reporter: anya and dasha were in the same unit. it was shelled by russian troops, who they say tried to break them, making them shout glory to russia and they shaved their heads, telling them that it was for hygiene purposes. translator: maybe they were trying to break our spirit in some way. translator: it was a shock, ....