Ukrainian National Guard officer shows shocking 40kg weight loss in before-and-after photos after release from Russian captivity

Ivan Petrovskyi, an officer with the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU), who was recently freed from Russian captivity, lost 40 kilograms during his detention.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia (Life)

Details: Petrovskyi, 30, posted before-and-after photos on Instagram.

"I'm home. The difference is 1037 days of captivity and minus 40 kilograms," Petrovskyi captioned one of the photos.

Petrovskyi's mother told the Ukrinform news agency that her son had been brought back home as part of a POW swap on 19 March, during which Ukraine liberated 175 defenders.

Born in Brovary, Kyiv Oblast, Petrovskyi later moved with his parents to Zhytomyr Oblast. He was drafted into the National Guard in 2015, and after completing his service, he signed a contract to remain in his unit.

Later, Ivan moved to Mariupol, where he served in the 12th Operational Brigade. He was involved in defending the city from Russian forces following the onset of the full-scale invasion.

Ivan was taken prisoner in May 2022 and spent nearly three years in Russian captivity. His mother noted that he was initially held in the Olenivka penal colony before being transferred to Russia's Volgograd Oblast.

During his captivity, Ivan Petrovskyi faced health issues.

His parents, wife, daughter and son eagerly awaited his return home.

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