Defender of Mariupol told how Russians played cards for his life.

Marine Aližan Šamsijev told about the horrors of captivity, where he had to endure the most terrible moments of his life. Wounded and with burned legs, he found himself in the captivity of enemy forces, where he was tortured and subjected to cruelty. Even on the edge of life and death, he managed to avoid execution by winning at cards.

I was just laid on the floor, my hands were tied. The Russians sat down to play cards... And he lost. I started begging: “I am a soldier, I’ve been a soldier for a long Time. Better shoot me. I don’t want my head to be cut off like a dog” - shares Aližan Šamsijev.

Beatings, threats of execution, and unspeakable tortures became part of the daily life in captivity for the brave sailor. His will and surname saved him from death in one of the most difficult moments. In this brutal reality, the chance of survival often depended on randomness and the fate of the warrior.

This story highlights the brutality of war and the ineffability of ordinary humanity in the most extreme conditions. Aližan Šamsijev's fate well reflects the reality of ruthlessness and randomness on the battlefield, where even the strongest have to confront their darkest fears.