Ukrainian marine survived 9 MONTHS behind Russian lines after jailbreak as he hid in cellars, pulled own teeth & ate DOG
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A UKRAINIAN marine has revealed he survived nine months hiding in a basement behind Russian lines after escaping captivity. Mariupol marine Gennadyi Zelenyi was prepared to defend his hometown when Putin launched his bloody invasion on Ukraine in 2022 - but had no idea what was to follow.
![[Portrait of Gennadyi Zelenyi, a Ukrainian marine who survived nine months behind enemy lines.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/man-steel-ukrainian-marine-survived-963649435.png?strip=all&w=616)
On February 23, that year, Zelenyi - who was in the official 503rd Marine Battalion of the Ukrainian Military - received a chilling phone call from a friend that one million Russians were to invade. Within a matter of hours, bombs began to erupt across cities as residents desperately fled while Putin's troops advanced over the border.
![[Ukrainian marine Gennadyi Zelenyi, who survived nine months behind enemy lines after escaping a Russian prison.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/man-steel-ukrainian-marine-survived-963649529.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The first battle Zelenyi fought in was when a Ural truck arrived followed by a tank - then a fuel track and a UAZ. A rocket-propelled grenade was fired which resulted in Zelenyi and fellow Ukrainian men capturing their first prisoners whom they took gear from among other weaponry and materials.
![[Aerial view of damaged residential buildings in Mariupol, with the Azovstal steel plant in the background.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aerial-view-damaged-residential-buildings-734054897.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Pressure started to mount as the Ukrainian troops were soon unable to leave and were surrounded after a group from Crimea reached Mariupol. Zelenyi explained in an interview with CRAF Media: "Hell truly began when the KAB bombs started falling. I was in shock when I saw one hit a five-story building and completely obliterate it.
![[Portrait of Gennadyi Zelenyi, a Ukrainian marine who survived nine months behind enemy lines.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/man-steel-ukrainian-marine-survived-963671501.png?strip=all&w=170)
"That was one of the smaller KABs. Later, we heard they had orders to destroy the city, and KABs were flying everywhere.". Zelenyi had befriended a 70-year-old fellow comrade who initially showed up to defend with a pump-action shotgun who told him: "I've got nothing to lose".
![[Ukrainian marine Gennadyi Zelenyi in interview.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/man-steel-ukrainian-marine-survived-963671503.png?strip=all&w=316)
