"I Was Chained Up for Months: Russian Hostage's Horrific Ordeal at the Hands of Hamas"

Andrey Kozlov, a 27-year-old Russian sous chef, has spoken out about his eight-month ordeal at the hands of Hamas militants in Gaza. Kozlov was working as a security guard at the Nova music festival when terrorists stormed the rave on October 7 last year, capturing him and three other hostages. The group was subjected to brutal treatment, including being chained up for two months, forced to sleep in cramped conditions, and repeatedly threatened with death.

For 245 days, Kozlov was held captive in a squalid toilet, with blankets piled on top of him in blistering heat if he disobeyed the guards. He cried every day, fearing for his life, as the terrorists taunted him with promises of being "put in the grave." The hostages were moved seven times and treated differently by each guard, with some allowed to use a toilet and others forced to share a bucket in a room. Kozlov described one particularly sadistic guard who would order him to sit still on his mattress for two days, treating him "like a dog."

The Russian national's family received no news of his fate until May, when he celebrated his mother's birthday. "I heard from a guard that he promised to put me in the grave," Kozlov said. "You repeat in your head, 'What will I do if something bad happens?'" On June 8, Israeli special forces burst into the apartment, killing the two guards and rescuing Kozlov, along with two other hostages. He was flown to Sheba Medical Centre, where he was reunited with his mother, Evgeniia Kozlova, the next day.

Key Takeaways:

• Andrey Kozlov, a 27-year-old Russian sous chef, was held captive for 244 days by Hamas militants in Gaza.
• Kozlov was chained up for two months, forced to sleep in cramped conditions, and repeatedly threatened with death.
• The hostages were moved seven times and treated differently by each guard, with some allowed to use a toilet and others forced to share a bucket in a room.
• Kozlov described one particularly sadistic guard who would order him to sit still on his mattress for two days, treating him "like a dog."
• The Israeli special forces rescued Kozlov on June 8, killing the two guards and freeing him from captivity.
• Kozlov was flown to Sheba Medical Centre, where he was reunited with his mother, Evgeniia Kozlova, the next day.
• Kozlov's mother received no news of his fate until May, when he celebrated her birthday.
• Kozlov's family has been trying to bring attention to the plight of the remaining 120 hostages in Gaza.

Statistics:

• 245 days: The duration of Kozlov's captivity.
• 8 months: The length of time the hostages were held.
• 7 times: The number of times the hostages were moved.
• 3: The number of hostages rescued on June 8.
• 120: The number of hostages remaining trapped in Gaza.

Sources:

• "Rescued hostage tells of month-long Hamas captivity horror" (The Daily Mail)
• "Russian hostage tells of Hamas captivity" (News Daily Mail)