Life And Service After Captivity

This practical handbook was developed for Ukrainian military personnel released from captivity, based on the author's own experience as a POW (November 2022 – April 2023) and his subsequent work supporting other released defenders through reintegration. The handbook covers the full arc of post-captivity recovery across 10 chapters: the reintegration process (checklists, contacts, phases); physical and psychological self-care (exercises, nutrition, sleep, grounding techniques); rebuilding social connections with family and children; navigating military service decisions; financial and housing support; civilian life after service; and digital safety. It is notable for its peer-authored, non-clinical voice — honest about the complexity of return, including identity, trust, dependency risks and the reality that "life before will not come back." It also includes a chronological digest of key war events (2022–2025) to help newly released individuals reorient to what has changed.