**War in Ukraine: A Family Home Becomes a Horror Story**
In the small mining city of Vuhledar, eastern Ukraine, Marina Perederii‘s home on Sadova Street was her pride and joy. She and her husband had lovingly renovated the house, painting cherry blossom and doves – symbols of love and well-being – in their bedroom.
**A Family Flees**
But when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Marina’s life changed forever. Her husband went to fight while she took their children and ran. Before fleeing, she recorded a video saying goodbye to her home, not knowing if they would ever return.
**Russian Soldier’s Bodycam Footage**
A year later, in February 2023, Marina saw her home again through the eyes of Russian soldier Andrei Efimkin, also known as Fima. His bodycam footage showed him flicking through photos of Marina and her family, saying “beautiful” in one.
**A Ukrainian Soldier Held Captive**
But what the footage didn’t show was that a Ukrainian soldier, Oleksii, was being held captive in Marina’s basement. He had been injured and left behind by Russian soldiers who retreated. For 46 days, he was unable to leave the building, barely eating or drinking.
**Desperate Search for Water**
Oleksii’s desperate search for water nearly killed him. He broke into a sauna pipe, thinking it might contain water, but ended up drinking antifreeze, which caused internal burns.
**Rescue and Aftermath**
Finally, in March 2023, Ukrainian forces retook parts of Vuhledar and reached Sadova Street. Oleksii was rescued by ex-New Zealand soldier Kane Te Tai, who had traveled to fight for Ukraine. But another week later, Te Tai died in battle.
**The Russian Soldier’s Account**
Marina’s home is now almost nothing but a shell, left behind by the war. The BBC spoke to Andrei Efimkin, also known as Fima, about his role in holding Oleksii captive and flicking through Marina’s family photos. He said he was just trying to distract himself from the incoming gunfire.
**A Family’s Grief**
Marina is now living in Germany, trying to build a new life, but still grieving her lost home in Vuhledar. “My land is there, the air is mine,” she says. Her hope for Ukraine to win and return to her beloved house remains strong.
**The Story of Number 17**
A BBC investigation reveals how Marina’s family home became the backdrop of three lives caught up in war: the fleeing homeowner, the starving prisoner, and the Russian soldier. Watch the full story on BBC iPlayer or on the BBC World Service YouTube channel (outside UK).