‘I wanted to live’: A Ukrainian orphan’s journey through Russian occupation

Denys Kostev, 22, was forced to produce pro-Russian videos after being transferred from an orphanage in Kherson to occupied Crimea during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He played the role of a wartime propaganda figure to survive, risking physical threats and violence. Now back in Ukraine, he is preparing to fight for Kyiv, reflecting the hardships and coercion faced during the conflict.