Ukrainian hero: I was tortured in captivity...

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

- BY SIMON MURPHY

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 22lb lighter when she was released in a prisoner swap. Her relief was tempered because she was leaving 21 women behind in a 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 the Second World War. She said: "I think I believe in justice. Justice will prevail. We are paying a huge price. We cannot return those who already passed away. But Russia must pay, pay in full.

"After World War Two, you had a similar situation. I know that London was destroyed, I know how many people in the UK were killed.

TAKEN