Paul Whelan Reflects on Russian Imprisonment

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan recounted the severe hardships he faced while imprisoned in Russia, including sleep deprivation and harassment, which he described as torture. Whelan was detained on espionage charges in 2018, which he and the U.S. government assert were fabricated, and he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Whelan's release in August came as part of a complex prisoner swap, yet he was previously overlooked in other exchanges that freed Americans like Brittney Griner and Trevor Reed. During his captivity, Whelan experienced psychological distress, leading to PTSD, and struggled with sleep disturbances due to continuous surveillance and harassment in the labor camp. He expressed frustration over missed opportunities for his release and plans to write a book detailing his ordeal to prevent similar situations for others. Whelan credits his resilience during imprisonment to maintaining a positive mindset and is now focused on adapting back to life in the U.S.