In the first days of the Russian invasion, Roman still tried to help Ukrainian defenders. In his own car, he took wounded soldiers to a neighbouring village that had not yet been occupied. However, his attempts to evacuate ended there, and he and his family had to hide in a cellar from shelling and explosions. Later, the Russian invaders visited him and subjected him to an inspection. They made him kneel, undressed him in search of tattoos and interrogated him. After the torture, Roman's hands were tied and he was thrown into a barn with other local men. There they were beaten and left without food for three days.