Four Ukrainian soldiers who spent three years hiding in a hospital deep inside Russian-occupied territory have been rescued in a daring mission carried out by Kyiv’s special forces.
The men were wounded in battle in 2022 and remained in the hospital, their identities concealed with the help of sympathetic medical staff who shielded them from Russian troops.
Ukrainian Navy commander Oleksii Neizhpapa, who led the rescue, described the mission as a testament to endurance. “Our boys survived where there seemed to be no chance,” he wrote in a post on Facebook on Friday.
“This story is about resilience and faith,” he added.
Neizhpapa explained that the operation was launched after a Ukrainian marine released during a recent prisoner exchange with Moscow revealed his twin brother was still alive and in hiding inside a hospital.
“Upon receiving this information, I made the decision to begin special evacuation measures,” Neizhpapa said.
The commander did not disclose the location of the hospital or the identities of the rescued soldiers, citing security concerns.
‘Angels’ to the rescue
A video released by Neizhpapa showed the marine awaiting a reunion with his twin brother, whom he had not seen in years.
“I miss him so much,” the soldier said, adding, “I’m going to meet him now. It’s not easy to get through something like this.”
Alongside the twin, three National Guard soldiers who had also been secretly treated in the facility were freed.
A medical worker who had risked their life by sheltering the men was also evacuated.
The daring operation was carried out by the Angels, a special forces unit of the Ukrainian Navy, formed in 2022 to rescue civilians and soldiers from behind enemy lines.
According to Neizhpapa, the unit has so far rescued 88 people since its creation.