RUSSIA MUST PAY

Ukrainian hero: I was tortured in captivity..

- SIMON MURPHY

A HERO Ukrainian medic captured and tortured in the war says Russia will have to pay a huge price for its crimes.

Yuliia Paievska, 56, was taken by Putin's forces at the besieged port city Mariupol in March 2022. The mum of one was beaten and tortured with electric shocks during her three months in captivity.

She was thin and haggard, and 22lb lighter when she was released in a prisoner swap.

Her relief was tempered because she was leaving 21 women behind in a tiny cell.

Yuliia, who is also known as Taira, founded a volunteer ambulance corps nicknamed Taira's Angels and now supports troops' mental health.

She likened the devastation in her homeland to that of World War II.

She said: "Justice will prevail. We are paying a huge price. We cannot return those who already passed away. But Russia must pay, pay in full.