Back From Hell: The Emotional Return of Ukrainian Soldiers From Russian Captivity, Reunited with Family after 730 days in the Russian captivity…see more

“What are you studying?” a man asked one of his two daughters, hugging his family.

“Geography? And what about you?” he turned his face to the second one. The other girl is studying economics. These updates are among those he missed out on while in Russian captivity, as the last time he saw his loved ones was months ago.

However, these short meetings don’t last as long as family members would like. A car is already waiting to take him to the hospital for a full medical examination. As soon as the door closes, his wife quickly opens it again to hug the man she loves one more time.

This is an opportunity she hadn’t had for almost 40 months. At the same site, another family is reunited: a woman, Liudmyla, with her brother. “He never lost heart. He encouraged me during difficult moments in my life, and I also tried to encourage him. I had faith.”

Liudmyla has been waiting for her brother Oleksandr to return from Russian captivity for more than a year, since April 2, 2024. Finally, today, she welcomed him home.