The author, a British military trainer assisting Ukraine, was captured early in the Russia-Ukraine war while retreating, held by the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), enduring interrogation, torture, and psychological stress. Initially interrogators extracted information within 48 hours; later he became a propaganda tool or potential bargaining chip as circumstances shifted. Eventually tried and later released through negotiation between powers.

As a captured soldier, the author emphasizes avoiding exposing personal information — once captors judge you worthless for extraction, you risk abandonment. Opportunism, maintaining positive attitude, and timing enabled survival and escape opportunity.

life¶