Ukrainian says he suffered three days of electric shock torture at the hands of Russians | World | News

His father has told how Russian soldiers subjected him to three days of torture, including electric shocks, to force him to tell them where his weapons were hidden. Serhiy Balan’s captors, who nicknamed him “Iron Balls” because he held out for so long, also threatened to force his pregnant wife Olya to “give birth like a dog” out.

Serhiy, who lives with Olya and children Daniel and Eva in the now-liberated village of Velyka Oleksandrivka, in Kherson region, said: “They broke me psychologically.

“All the time they hit me in the back of the head and hit me with guns, saying, “Where are the Nazis? Where are the guns?’. I can’t remember how many times I lost consciousness. Electric shocks were the worst.”

Days later, fearing that his guns would be found and more punishment would follow, the ex-cop finally gave up his weapons.

Olya said: “They said I couldn’t go to any hospital [to give birth]. I could only go to Russia. They said if I run away, they will kill me.

“They said to Serhiy in prison, ‘we will throw your wife away and she will give birth like a dog outside’.” Serhiy, who lost 22 lbs during his ordeal, was eventually released and allowed to return home.

But a few weeks later, stuck in their house and heavily guarded by Russian soldiers, Olya went into labor and Serhiy delivered baby Eva, who is now eight months old, himself.

He said: “I had gray hair after that. I was worried she was losing blood, but she was very lucky.”

After Russia captured Kherson last March, Serhiy fled into the country with other policemen.

Olya told Russian soldiers he was in the hospital with Covid. But the suspicious soldiers kept a close eye on her, telling her not to leave the house. Nevertheless, she secretly risked her life delivering food to her husband and his colleagues.

Later, Serhiy returned home quietly. But Russian soldiers found out and took him to be tortured.

Olya said: “Before, he was very kind and polite, now he wants to kill these people. At night he screams sometimes.

“He wants to join the army and he’s going to join soon.”