Latest news with #Tetiana
New York Post
7 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
A lifetime of losing weight: Trying and failing to slim down is far more common than you may think
A new study has found that the average woman tries to lose weight seven times over their lifespan — but fails six times. The recent double-blinded poll, of 2,000 U.S. women between the ages of 30 and 65, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Boston Scientific, found that 78% have tried to lose weight before, but many struggle to reach their weight loss goals. Women who have tried to lose weight in the past shared numerous methods they've tried to reach their goals, including a healthier diet (78%), weight loss supplements (41%), weight loss beverages (39%), and fad diets (31%). Results found some have also tried turning to modern medicine or procedures for weight loss: 14% reported trying GLP-1 medications, and 7% tried either bariatric surgeries or endoscopic procedures. 5 A new study has found that the average woman tries to lose weight seven times over their lifespan – but fails six times. Tetiana – Three in four women (74%) said weight loss is important to their personal overall health and wellbeing. And for most who have tried to lose weight before, the biggest motivators were to maintain their appearance (65%), their physical health (63%), and their personal satisfaction (59%). Many said they're influenced to try new weight loss methods by doing their own personal research (42%) or seeking advice from healthcare professionals (34%). Four in 10 (41%) admitted they're unhappy with their current weight, and 43% said their weight has decreased their sense of self-confidence. 5 Many said they're influenced to try new weight loss methods by doing their own personal research or seeking advice from healthcare professionals. SWNS A third would consider a weight loss procedure or surgery. However, 48% have hesitations about it, stating they wouldn't consider undergoing weight loss surgery to assist in reaching their goals. People are just learning about the endobariatric options. Nearly half (47%) of those who have tried to lose weight before said they were not aware of minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures for weight loss, and only 2% of them had undergone an endobariatric procedure. But 51% said they'd be interested in learning more about it and what it can do for them. In fact, 74% who are unhappy with their weight believe it's important that they have multiple options to choose from for weight loss. 5 Seven in 10 women who are unhappy with their current weight believe the ease of implementation and access are important when deciding on a new weight loss method. SWNS Reem Sharaiha, MD, MSc*, attending physician and director of endoscopy at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said: 'Losing weight is an extremely relatable goal among women and something most have tried to do at some point in their lives. 'It can be a challenging and overwhelming process that often involves many factors and motivators to be successful. 'It is important to understand that obesity is not anyone's fault and can be multifactorial. We need to treat obesity as a chronic condition requiring multiple different treatment options during different stages of a person's life.' 5 The recent double-blinded poll found that 78% have tried to lose weight before, but many struggle to reach their weight loss goals. SWNS Seven in 10 women who are unhappy with their current weight believe the ease of implementation and access are important when deciding on a new weight loss method. Respondents unhappy with their current weight shared what they believe would help them achieve their weight loss goals more effectively: self-motivation (61%), improved finances and ability to afford weight loss treatments under insurance (37%), an increased focus on their health goals (33%), access to weight loss programs (30%) and access to weight loss procedures (27%). Sharaiha added: 'Endobariatric procedures may be an excellent option for women looking to lose weight and maintain their weight loss through a healthy diet and exercise. 5 Results found some have also tried turning to modern medicine or procedures for weight loss: 14% reported trying GLP-1 medications, and 7% tried either bariatric surgeries or endoscopic procedures. SWNS 'For those who want to avoid weight loss medications and surgery, an endobariatric procedure can be an effective alternative to kickstart healthy weight loss. I encourage women to talk to their doctor to determine if this may be a good option for their weight loss journey.' *Dr. Reem Sharaiha is a paid consultant of Boston Scientific Corporation. She has not been compensated in connection with this research or news copy. Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American women, aged 30 to 65; the survey was commissioned by Boston Scientific and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Nov. 1 and Nov. 7, 2024.
New York Post
05-08-2025
- Health
- New York Post
What is Legionnaires' disease and how do you get it? Pneumonia-like outbreak sweeps Harlem, killing two
City health officials are sounding the alarm as a Legionnaires' disease outbreak spreads through Harlem, killing two New Yorkers and sickening at least 58 others. The pneumonia-like illness, first detected on July 25, has been reported in zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039, as well as and neighboring communities. 'The risk to most people is low, but if you live or work around these ZIP codes and have flu-like symptoms, see a health care provider right away,' the New York City Health Department urged. Here's everything you need to know about the potentially deadly infection. 4 Legionnaires' disease is most commonly reported in the summer and early fall. Tetiana – What is Legionnaires' disease? It's a severe form of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria infecting the lungs. Though considered rare, Legionnaires' disease is on the rise in the US, with reported cases increasing nine-fold since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 Americans are hospitalized with the infection, but experts believe the true number is likely much higher because many cases going undiagnosed. How do you get Legionnaires'? While legionella can be found naturally in lakes, streams and soil, it can turn deadly when it grows in man-made water systems. The bacteria often thrives in places like cooling towers, decorative fountains, whirlpools, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks and large air-conditioning systems, city officials said. Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling tiny water droplets contaminated with legionella, often from sources like shower spray or accidentally breathing in water while drinking, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 4 The disease is typically transferred through water supplies contaminated with Legionella bacteria. The good news: It doesn't spread from person-to-person. In regards to the Harlem outbreak, city health officials have pointed to cooling towers as the likely source, with 11 of them testing positive for legionella. These towers help regulate temperatures in cooling systems like central air conditioning and refrigeration. Officials reassured residents in the affected zip codes that their tap water is safe to drink, and they can continue bathing, showering, cooking and using air conditioning at home. As of August 4, all 11 contaminated cooling towers have been cleaned and cleared, the health department confirmed. What are the symptoms of Legionnaires' disease? Symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after exposure to legionella bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. The infection often starts with a headache, muscle pain and fever that can climb as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit. 4 Once in the lungs, Legionella bacteria can cause inflammation and damage, leading to pneumonia. Axel Kock – Within a few days, symptoms can get worse and may include: A cough that sometimes produces mucus or blood Shortness of breath Chest pain Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea Confusion or other mental changes Legionnaires' disease primarily targets the lungs but can also lead to infections in wounds and other areas of the body, including the heart. A milder form, known as Pontiac fever, causes fever, chills, headaches, and muscle aches. Unlike Legionnaires', Pontiac fever does not affect the lungs and typically resolves within a week. Can it be treated? Fortunately, antibiotics can clear the infection and are usually paired with rest, fluids and, in severe cases, oxygen to help ease symptoms. 4 Legionnaires' disease is a growing problem in the US and around the globe. Getty Images 'Legionnaires' disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, but New Yorkers at higher risk, like adults aged 50 and older and those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions, should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin,' Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said. With prompt treatment, most people make a full recovery, although it may take a few weeks to feel completely back to normal. The overall fatality rate for Legionnaires' disease is about 10%, but it's higher among hospitalized patients, seniors and those with underlying health conditions. When was NYC's last outbreak? Out of the city's 8.5 million residents, between 200 and 700 are diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease each year, according to the health department. Areas hit hardest tend to have older populations and higher poverty rates. The last major outbreak happened in summer 2022, when at least five people died at a Manhattan nursing home. It was the city's deadliest Legionnaires' incident since 2015, when a contaminated Bronx cooling tower was linked to 16 deaths — sparking a wave of new regulations aimed at preventing future outbreaks.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Even if you've never smoked, you could still be at risk of lung cancer, doctors warn
Lung cancer, the second-most common cancer in the U.S., is often associated with smoking — but even those who have never had a cigarette could be at risk of the deadly disease. While it's true that those who smoke face a much higher risk, up to 20% of lung cancers affect people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite this, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend lung cancer screening for those who have never smoked, as the agency states the risks may outweigh the potential benefits. Most lung cancers fall into two groups: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to the American Cancer Society. NSCLC, which encompasses about 80% to 85% of all lung cancers, includes adenocarcinoma (common in non-smokers), squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. 7 While it's true that those who smoke face a much higher risk, up to 20% of lung cancers affect people who have never smoked. Tetiana – The remaining lung cancers are classified as SCLC, a more aggressive type that tends to spread faster and has a poorer prognosis. Mohamed Abazeed, M.D., Ph.D., chair of radiation oncology and the William N. Brand Professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, agrees that the share of lung cancers diagnosed in never-smokers is increasing, particularly among women and patients of Asian ancestry. 'While overall incidence is declining due to reduced smoking rates, the relative share of never-smokers is growing and is reflected in clinical practice, where we increasingly diagnose patients without a traditional smoking history,' he told Fox News Digital. 7 Most lung cancers fall into two groups: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). utah51 – Dr. Lauren Nicola, a practicing radiologist and chief medical officer at Reveal Dx in North Carolina, said she is also seeing an increase in the rate of newly diagnosed lung cancer in non-smokers, particularly among women and younger adults. The main factor driving up the share of non-smokers among lung cancer patients, according to Abazeed, is the successful drive to reduce tobacco consumption in the U.S. 'Other factors include improvements in imaging and broader use of CT scans that have enhanced early-stage tumor detection,' he noted. 'Evolving environmental factors may also be contributing to this change, with pollutants potentially driving lung inflammation, which in turn has been implicated in cancer development.' Modifiable risk factors 7 The main factor driving up the share of non-smokers among lung cancer patients is the successful drive to reduce tobacco consumption in the U.S. New Africa – Some of the biggest non-smoking risk factors for lung cancer include ambient air pollution and secondhand smoke, according to Abazeed. Exposure to thoracic radiation (high-energy radiation in the chest area) — along with occupational hazards like radon, asbestos and diesel exhaust — can also increase the risk. Lifestyle-related inflammation, which is often linked to poor diet and sedentary behavior, can also play a role, Nicola noted. 7 Some of the biggest non-smoking risk factors for lung cancer include ambient air pollution and secondhand smoke, according to Abazeed. utah51 – 'Some of these, like radon and air quality, can be addressed at the household or policy level,' Abazeed said. 'Lifestyle interventions — such as exercise, diet and avoidance of indoor pollutants — may play a modest protective role.' Both doctors pointed out that former smokers, especially those who smoked more often and for longer periods of time, remain at elevated risk even decades after quitting. 'The greater the number of pack-years, the higher the risk,' said Nicola. 'Risk declines over time after quitting, but never returns to the baseline of a never-smoker.' Genetic risk factors 7 Doctors pointed out that former smokers remain at elevated risk even decades after quitting. – Some people inherit a higher risk of developing lung cancer due to their DNA. 'It is estimated that about 8% of lung cancers are inherited or occur because of a genetic predisposition,' Abazeed told Fox News Digital. 'Inherited predisposition is an area of active investigation, particularly in younger patients or those with a strong family history.' Having a first-degree relative with lung cancer roughly doubles the risk of developing the disease, even after controlling for smoking exposure, according to Nicola. 'Cancers in non-smokers are more often associated with specific genetic mutations and genomic profiles,' she said. 'This suggests that these malignancies have a different underlying biology compared to tumors in smokers.' Screenings in question 7 Having a first-degree relative with lung cancer roughly doubles the risk of developing the disease, even after controlling for smoking exposure. didesign – Current U.S. screening guidelines call for annual low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals based on age and smoking history, Abazeed reiterated. The USPSTF recommends screening for 'adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.' 'There is a growing interest in expanding eligibility to include non-smoking risk factors,' Abazeed noted. 'Evidence is accumulating that could potentially change current population-wide guidelines.' 7 Current U.S. screening guidelines call for annual low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals based on age and smoking history. Doodeez – There are some potential risks linked to expanding screening, experts say, including the potential for overdiagnosis and false positives. 'The problem with screening everyone for lung cancer is that up to 50% of all chest CTs will detect at least one pulmonary nodule,' Nicola noted. 'The vast majority of these nodules are benign, but a small percentage will turn out to be cancer.' Based primarily on the size of the nodule, the clinician may recommend follow-up imaging or biopsy. 'New tools are being developed that can help us better characterize the malignancy risk of a nodule, which will decrease the potential for harm associated with overdiagnosis in screening,' Nicola said.
Qatar Tribune
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Russia, Ukraine begin swap of young and wounded prisoners of war
agencies Kiev/Moscow Russia and Ukraine launched on Monday a new prisoner exchange, agreed earlier this month during direct negotiations in Istanbul between representatives from both countries. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the first group of Russian soldiers under the age of 25 has been released from Ukrainian captivity. In return, a similar number of Ukrainian prisoners were handed over by Moscow. Neither side disclosed the exact number of individuals involved. Moscow said the repatriated Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving medical assistance. 'Our people are home,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X. He confirmed the return of young soldiers and seriously injured individuals but did not provide specific figures. Zelensky said the exchange process is 'quite complex,' though he expressed hope that the Istanbul agreement would be fully implemented. He said the swaps would 'continue in several stages over the coming days.' Tensions had flared between Moscow and Kiev over the timing of the exchange. The families of missing Ukrainian soldiers gathered close to the border with Belarus on Monday, as a planned prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine took place. As the bus carrying prisoners of war arrived, a crowd of relatives surged forward, many brandishing photos of missing fathers, brothers and sons. Faces were filled with apprehension. Few expected to be reunited, and most were just desperate for information after waiting years for any latest exchange stems from the second round of talks held in Istanbul a week ago. Both sides agreed to swap young soldiers aged 18 to 25, along with seriously wounded or ill prisoners of war, and to return the bodies of fallen soldiers. The arrangement could eventually involve over 1,000 individuals from each side. The first phase of the exchange had originally been scheduled for the weekend. Officials in Kiev said some of the Ukrainian prisoners who returned on Monday had been in Russian captivity since the beginning of the war. Tetiana, who had gathered with other Ukrainians in the Chernihiv region close to Belarus, carried a cardboard sign with photos of her father, Valentyn, and cousin, Mykola, both still missing. 'When my father went to fight, my biggest fear was that he would go missing,' she said, her eyes filling with tears. 'I hoped maybe he'd be wounded and come back.' The war has exacted a heavy toll on the family. Tetiana's uncle was killed last September, but his body was only recently returned for burial. When one of the returned prisoners appeared at an upstairs window, women waiting below hurled the names of regiments at him, hoping he might have news. He apologised, made a heart sign with his hands and called out 'slava Ukraini' - glory to Ukraine. 'Heroiam Slava' - glory to the heroes - the crowd replied in unison. Glimpsed briefly through the crowd as they were escorted inside, some of the soldiers looked gaunt.
New European
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New European
Putin's vanishing prisoners
There is one group of people, however, who will have welcomed the pictures: the soldier's families. They have the comfort that their loved ones are safe and will be treated according to the Geneva Convention. But the loved ones of tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians do not have that comfort. American negotiations to end the war in Ukraine have so far focused on land and security guarantees. The prisoners should be a reminder that the fate of people affected by this war should be the immediate priority of the negotiations. Pictures of Chinese nationals being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine have raised questions about the extent of China's support to Russia. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has stated that China is 'a staunch supporter and active promoter of the peaceful resolution of the crisis', and suggested that Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia were doing so in their private capacity. President Zelensky claims there are at least 155 Chinese citizens doing so. It is not common for Chinese nationals to take such potentially embarrassing action without official approval. In 2019, the Ukrainian photojournalist Zoya Shu began photographing people freed from Russian detention. She has spent time with many former PoWs, listening to the distressing stories of their time in Russian prisons. I met Shu in London, where she told me about Olexiy Anulia who was so hungry he ate worms and a live rat to survive (the rat tasted like liver). She told me of the cold water punishments that led to prisoners losing fingers and toes and showed me the photos of the remaining stumps. She described the beatings and the electrocutions, and how some were kept in cages. She described the forced singing of the Russian national anthem as part of systematic attempts to destroy their Ukrainian identity as well as break them down physically and mentally. Tetiana Borisenko, a former combat medic, holds a Ukrainian flag signed by 12 people who were held with her in captivity in the Luhansk region in 2014. She endured 24 days of physical and psychological torture, suffering a fractured skull and continuing to live with its lasting effects. When the large-scale invasion began in 2022, Tetiana's village near Chernihiv became a war zone, and her house was destroyed. After the region's liberation, she rebuilt her home and returned. Tetiana also served as a combat medic during the liberation of the Kherson region. Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier who joined the Ukrainian army to fight for his adopted home after settling there and marrying a Ukrainian, was captured by Russia during the siege of Maripol. The description of the early days of his capture is indistinguishable from the experiences of those held by terrorist group Isis, and corroborates the stories Shu was told. At one point men in balaclavas draped a Ukrainian flag around his shoulders in front of a camera on a tripod. He was convinced that, 'This is going to be filmed and my death will be used as propaganda'. Pinner experienced a mock execution and heard stories of other receiving the same psychological torture. Pinner described hearing the brutal beating that British aid worker Paul Urey was given by prison guards two days before he died. When Urey's body was released, Ukraine's foreign minister, claimed an examination showed 'signs of possible unspeakable torture'. The mother and niece of Ihor Myronchuk, a soldier in the Armed Forces of Ukraine taken captive in February 2019. According to other prisoners of war who have been swapped, Ihor is in poor physical and psychological condition. Russia continues to deny the Red Cross access to prisoners of war. Like thousands of other families, Ihor's relatives have no way to learn about his fate and continue to wait in hope. The findings of a UN Commission of Inquiry reveal that the experiences of Pinner and those that Shu photographed are not anomalies. It concluded that Russia's use of torture against prisoners and civilian detainees amounts to crimes against humanity. The report outlines how Russian forces have subjected Ukrainian captives to brutal beatings, burns and electric shocks amplified by water. It also details how Ukrainians are forced to endure sexual violence, including rape. The deputy head of the United Kingdom delegation to the organisation for security and co-operation in Europe, Deirdre Brown, has stated that, 'The UK unequivocally condemns the Russian state's reported systematic torture, abuse, and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war'. Her organisation has concluded that the torture of captured soldiers and civilians by the Russian state is widespread and systematic. Additionally, the Ukrainian prosecutor-general's office reports that 147 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been executed by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion. In this photo taken on Sunday, September 1, 2019, Vitaly Paraskun holds up an image of himself taken shortly after his release from captivity, inside the Kyiv church where he now serves. Paraskun was captured in October 2014 in the occupied part of Luhansk region while conducting missionary work as an Evangelical priest. He spent 199 days in an unheated basement, enduring routine torture. He recalls facing potential execution without fear—but being deeply shaken when his captors threatened to harm his knee. After his release, Paraskun relocated to Dymer near Kyiv, which was later occupied in 2022. During that time, he experienced intense flashbacks. He recalls that when a Russian helicopter hovered above him, he felt the same helplessness as when he was chained to a radiator in a mine office basement in 2015. Among all this physical pain, there is a unique psychological pain, inflicted by Russia. A therapist told Shu that, 'Out of all the different cases of traumatised frontline soldiers, ex-prisoners of war, and others impacted by the war, working with the relatives of missing soldiers and civilians is the hardest'. For many who have disappeared into the Russian prison system their loved ones still have no idea if they are alive or dead. In some ways this is a worse outcome for their families than receiving confirmation of their death. The US psychologist Pauline Boss, who started working with the wives of missing US airmen in the 1970s, writes that 'even sure knowledge of death is more welcome than a continuation of doubt', and describes incomplete or uncertain loss as 'ambiguous loss'. This is a unique form of psychological torture that keeps the wound open. The rituals of closure and resolution are denied. This is why some states and armed groups deliberately 'disappear' those who are seen as their greatest threat. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, people suspected of informing on the IRA were at risk of vanishing. Mass communication makes the idea of not knowing what's happened to a loved one seem unthinkable. We are used to having the answers at our fingertips, search engines take us to forgotten facts, and clouds hold images of millions of misremembered memories. Yet, this is the daily reality for those living in the occupied territories of Ukraine and for those families who have loved ones at the front line. When humans tell stories, we place a great emphasis on the ending. We make sense of our lifespan with fictional stories that have an origin, a middle and an end. This simple sequence puts our mind at rest. Stories have always helped make sense of our world, and of the tragedies that occur within it. These stories have a universal grammar. If the end of your story is not known, this universal grammar is not followed. One of the drawings Serhii Zakharov made about his captivity in Donetsk in 2014. A distressed fellow detainee, Dimitri, told Pinner, 'I don't think I'm ever going to get out… All the people I love… They don't even know I'm here. They have probably written me off as dead. My poor mother…' Pinner and the detainees in his cell memorised each other's phone numbers, so that if one was released they could call the others' loved ones. One of the first calls Pinner made on release was to Dimitri's mother. In March, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 175 prisoners each, following a phone call between Trump and Putin in which the swap was discussed. Russia handed over an additional 22 seriously wounded Ukrainian prisoners. While this should be welcomed, there are tens of thousands of prisoners still being held. The Ukrainian government is working to track these POWs. I ask Shu what can be done to support this work. 'We need the international community to help secure independent monitoring of Russian prisons and detention facilities in the occupied territories,' she said. The aim would be to 'create pressure on Russia to improve the conditions of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, and to help ensure their prompt and safe release. 'Since the Red Cross is currently not fulfilling its monitoring role, other neutral international organisations or independent representatives – possibly even involving relatives of the prisoners – must be granted access, to assess the conditions of Ukrainians in captivity, in accordance with established international law.' The international community should also push for Russia to notify the loved ones of all those it has in its prisons. This should include the locations of the approximately 35,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. Efforts to track the location of these children have been hindered by the US's recent defunding of a research unit that helped locate them based at Yale University. The forcible abduction and deportation of children is a war crime under the statutes of the International Criminal Court. It may also be considered genocide if the aim is to eradicate a particular ethnic, racial, or religious group. Maria Varfolomeieva was working as a journalist in her native, occupied Luhansk, when she was captured in 2015 for taking photographs. She spent 419 days in captivity – more than a year and a half. After her release in a prisoner swap, she pursued a degree in psychology. Living in Kyiv when the full-scale invasion began, Maria chose to leave the country to avoid the risk of reliving the trauma she had endured years earlier. Currently, 6000 women are missing, 400 are confirmed to be in captivity. Many are in sexual and labour slavery. Some of the released women mention that they were injected with an unknown substance. There is little chance that any of those Russians identified as part of the state's torture apparatus will be brought to justice under Putin's leadership. This should not stop the collection of evidence. They should know that the cases against them will be kept open as long as they remain alive. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian special forces are using similar tactics used by Mossad against Nazi war criminals by seeking to track down those responsible outside their own borders. One morning, an attaché from the Ukrainian Embassy texted Pinner a newspaper article about a targeted attack against a Russian judge. It was the judge responsible for giving Pinner a death sentence in a sham trial. Pinner replied suggesting this was karma. Yes, karma, said the attaché, 'And the Ukrainian special forces'. Trump has rightly demanded the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and should be applauded for his role in helping push through the March exchange. He should be as vocal in calls for Russia to return those it has taken and subjected to widespread and systematic torture. That torture, mental and physical, is still happening now. There are thousands of families that are suffering the ambiguous loss of not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. There are thousands suffering the unique psychological torture of not being able to tell their loved ones they are alive. The Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky, who was sent to a prison in Siberia claimed, 'A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens but by how it treats its criminals.' Russia sends its own prisoners to die in the meat grinder that the frontlines in Ukraine have become. If Russian society were to be judged on how it treats its prisoners of war, the judgement can only be the harshest.
