This Is How It Was

Serhiy Kazimir, a Ukrainian officer, stood against Russia’s aggression in 2022, only to be captured during a reconnaissance mission on March 11. Imprisoned for 691 days, he was liberated in a prisoner exchange on January 31, 2024. While some of his comrades remain captive, Serhiy’s story of survival and resilience comes to light. Vahur Laiapea, an Estonian documentary filmmaker and prolific author, has ventured into Ukraine fifteen times since the war’s onset, capturing the human side of conflict in his works, including <em>Diaries from Ukraine</em> (2025). His writing bridges the emotional divide, bringing the reader face-to-face with the war''s impact on individuals. His narratives, steeped in pain, are not for the faint-hearted but are essential for those brave enough to engage with the truth. In spring 2024, Laiapea started documenting Serhiy’s life post-captivity, and from those interviews, this book emerged. It is Serhiy’s raw testimony of his ordeal. As these lines are being written, Serhiy is back on the front line, defending Ukraine near Pokrovsk in Donbas.