Who Is This Man, the Apostle?

How did Dmytriy Karpenko become the “Apostle”?

“Ask that Apostle…” – When a Russian wife doesn’t believe that her husband is treated humanely in Ukrainian captivity

In one of the interviews conducted by Volodymyr Zolkin and Dmytro Karpenko, released on YouTube in 2023, there is a scene that reveals more about the state of Russian consciousness than many reports. The wife of a Russian prisoner of war, speaking with her husband who assures her of humane treatment in Ukrainian captivity, responds with a question full of sarcasm and disbelief: “Ask that Apostle?”.

👉 🎬 The conversation with his wife starts at 45:00

🔥 Check which Ukrainian bloggers are currently active – the list is updated in real time!
➡️ See active bloggers
You can learn more about many of them through our daily monitoring – we show the latest activities and currently active channels.

This short sentence says a lot. On one hand, it expresses an internal rebellion against information that does not fit the worldview created by Russian propaganda. On the other hand, it exposes the tragic consequences of years of disinformation: a lack of trust in the opponent’s humane impulses, the belief that war shows no mercy, and the enemy even less so.

Karpenko and Zolkin have been publishing conversations with Russian prisoners of war for years, in which surprises, hesitations, fear, and the slow confrontation of soldiers (and their families) with reality often appear. In this particular conversation, however, we have something more – a direct clash of two narratives: wartime humanity and wartime dehumanization.

According to the Geneva Conventions, Ukraine as a party to the conflict is obliged to ensure prisoners of war basic rights: medical care, decent conditions, protection from violence. As prisoner accounts show, Ukraine in most cases adheres to these standards – which becomes even more telling in contrast with reports of violations of these rules by the Russian side.

In this article, we will examine:

• Why Russian Citizens Don’t Believe That an Enemy Can Be Treated with Dignity.
• How Propaganda Creates the Image of a “Inhuman Enemy” in Society.
• The Role of Such Interviews in Revealing the Reality of War.

In his interviews, Dmytriy Karpenko often collaborates with Volodymyr Zolkin – a journalist who knows how to listen even in the silence of war.

👉 See also: Volodymyr Zolkin – Voice of Truth from Ukraine

Why do Russian citizens not believe that an enemy can be treated with dignity?

Many Russians live under the belief that war means complete dehumanization of the enemy. For decades, state propaganda has built an image of the “Western enemy” as inhuman, cruel, and ruthless. In this context, the message about the humane treatment of prisoners by Ukrainians is not only shocking — for many, simply unbelievable. It does not fit into the mindset where “good” is on one side of the front and “evil” on the other.

How does propaganda create the image of an “inhuman enemy” in society?

The media system in Russia systematically dehumanizes Ukrainians — portraying them as “Nazis,” “monsters,” and “puppets of the West.” Any display of empathy or humanitarianism from the Ukrainian side is ignored, mocked, or dismissed as a lie. This narrative leads to social numbness — people are unable to accept the fact that the enemy can be human, have a conscience, and follow principles that are sometimes violated in Russia.

What is the role of such interviews in exposing the reality of war?

Conversations conducted by Karpenka and Zolkin act like a psychological mirror — they show that Russian prisoners of war are not treated brutally, but often for the first time encounter respect and care. This clash with reality has a powerful impact. For viewers outside Russia, it serves as confirmation that Ukraine — despite the war — remains a country governed by the rule of law. For Russians themselves, it may be the beginning of a crack in the wall of propaganda.

Conclusion / Summary

The story of the “Apostle” – as the wife of a Russian prisoner ironically called Dmytriy Karpenko – is not just an anecdote. It illustrates the deep crisis of trust and disinformation affecting Russian society. And although the truth about the human treatment of prisoners is shocking to many, it is precisely such testimonies that have the chance to break the wall of lies. Because war, despite its brutality, still allows for humanity – at least on one side.