Mykolaiv Event Honors Prisoners of War and Missing Soldiers

Participants in a rally in support of prisoners and missing soldiers are holding posters and flags. Suspilne Mykolaiv/Nazariy Rubanyak

In the center of the city of Mykolaiv, on September 28, an awareness-raising event about prisoners of war and missing persons took place. During the event, two soldiers who were released from captivity were greeted. Local journalists told Detali about the events and spoke with the participants.

Participant Victoria is waiting for her husband, who was captured on July 19, 2025 in Kherson region. He has been serving in the Armed Forces since 2022.

Participants and Their Stories

These were Krinky, and it was a nightmare. When I spoke to him last on the 17th, they were being shelled from everything they could. Krinky left nothing of him. I know he received one letter from me. I wrote. Those released from captivity pass on messages, and only then do you know something about your loved one

Victoria says that during the event it was hard to stay silent: many participants’ hearts beat in unison with hope for the swift return of their loved ones.

I try to be strong like he told me to: “You are strong, you can endure anything.” And I hope that he endures everything there and returns

Participants at the rally supporting the prisoners of war held posters and flags, expressing solidarity with families waiting for loved ones who are prisoners of war or missing in action.

In Krinky, Maria’s husband carried out combat missions. According to the woman, he went missing in March 2024.

The last time he got in touch was March 16, before going on a combat mission. And by March 17 he disappeared. The commander and comrades said that he was 100 percent dead. But three weeks later a video appeared (editor’s note – on Russian pages), where he is wounded and, presumably, in captivity

Maria adds that families continue to stay in touch with their relatives and support each other in such difficult times.

A local resident, Yulia, attended the rally; she has been waiting for her brother for more than a year and considers him missing in action.

He didn’t manage to tell me much at all. He left at the end of August. And on the 31st he disappeared. They were going to send him abroad for training, but they brought him back. He was in the reserve. As they sent him abroad in good shape, they sent him to Sumy. The last time I spoke to him, and the next day he disappeared

Yulia adds that community support gives people more strength in waiting and hope for their loved ones to return.

During the event, two servicemen who had been released from Russian captivity were also greeted. Among them was Artem, who spent three years in captivity.

They forced them to learn their songs. They beat them. Food was in short supply. The rations were minimal. I believed I would soon return home and see my family. The belief that the best would happen kept me hopeful

According to Alla Tkachenko, inspector of the National Police’s Preventive Communications Sector, about 250 people attended the event, and no violations were recorded.

This event served as an important reminder for those waiting for loved ones to return from captivity or who are missing, and underscored the importance of support for soldiers’ families during difficult times.