SLOVIANSK, Ukraine — One Ukrainian brigade defended the same block of industrial buildings for months without a break. Another had been in Avdiivka for nearly the entire two years of the war, bone-tired but with no replacements to relieve them.
Newly recruited soldiers of Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade line up at a military base Sept. 25, 2023, close to Kyiv, Ukraine.
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In this undated photo taken on the front-line, provided by Viktor Biliak, a Ukrainian infantryman with the 110th brigade, center, surrounded by fellow soldiers, poses for a photo, in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine.
Two years into war, thousands of Ukrainians search for missing loved ones
Natalia Sheleshei, 39, and her children Yehor, 12, and Anastasia, 5, wait Feb. 12 for the return of Serhii at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine. Serhii Sheleshei, 49, a Ukrainian serviceman, disappeared Oct. 12, 2022, with three of his comrades during fighting at the frontline near Zaitseve, Donetsk region. "For a year and five months, I've lived with the uncertainty of whether my husband is alive or not," said Natalia, who juggles two jobs. "He adored the children. Whenever he could, he would call, saying 'I love you' and 'I worry about you.'"
They are among thousands of Ukrainians desperately seeking news of loved ones who have disappeared in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. According to Ukraine’s National Police, more than 30,000 people have been reported missing in the last 24 months.
Iryna Reva, 59, waits for her son Vladyslav at her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 9, 2024. Vladyslav Reva, 25, a Ukrainian soldier with the 72nd Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting against Russian forces near Vuhlehirsk Power Station in the Donetsk region on July 24, 2022. Iryna's son-in-law, Oleksandr Dygalo, who served in the 95th brigade has also disappeared. He was last seen on March 12, 2023 in Donetsk region.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says since February 2022 its team has been contacted more than 100,000 times by families searching for their loved ones.
Maria Lezhnova, 52, sits surrounded by her pets as she waits for her son Hryhorii inside her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 15, 2024. Hryhorii Polevyi, 29, a military medic with the 120th Battalion went missing at the frontline in Mayorsk, Donetsk region, on November 4, 2022. Along with him, ten other servicemen disappeared. The day before he vanished, he sent a message to his mother saying simply: "Love you very much, I will go without connection for some time."
Larysa, 31, with her 4-year-old daughter, Olha, await the return of her husband Mykola at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 14, 2024. Mykola, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting at the frontline in Ozarianivka, Donetsk region on Nov. 2, 2022. Ukrainian forces later reclaimed the positions, finding his armored vest, phone, and military ID card. "My husband was taken captive by Wagner forces, but I don't know anything about his fate or whereabouts," Larysa said, her voice heavy with uncertainty. "On Oct. 22, 2022, we had our last meeting. He came to Kyiv to drive a car to the frontline. That day, he told me that a few days before some guys from his unit were captured. With a sinking heart, I asked him to share his phone's live location, to which he replied that it wouldn't make any sense. 'And where will I look for you then?' I jokingly asked. 'It'll be as it'll be,' he calmly replied, as if already accepted what was to come in a week," Larysa recounted, reflecting on their final encounter.
Olena Diachenko, 38, along with her children Maksym, 13, Margaryta, 10, and Myroslava, 5, await the return of husband and father Oleksandr in Mala Ofirna, Kyiv region, on Feb. 14, 2024. Oleksandr Diachenko, 37, serviceman of the 30th Mechanized Brigade missed during fighting at the frontline in Bohdanivka, Donetsk region, on March 4, 2023. "Children don't wish for presents on their birthdays; they wish for their father to come back," Olena said.
Tetiana, 60, with her son Klim Khvostenko, 35, await the return of her husband in their rented apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2024. Oleh Khvostenko, 62, a civilian, went missing after being arrested by Russian military police in Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia region on July 2, 2022. Since then, the family has struggled to obtain information about his fate and whereabouts.
Valentyna Yeremenko, 95, sits in her daughter's home while waiting for the return of her husband Mykola in Bucha, Kyiv region, on Feb. 11, 2024. Mykola Yeremenko, 96, a veteran of World War II, went missing during the Russian occupation of Irpin, Kyiv region on March 19, 2022. Valentyna, who celebrated their 70-year wedding anniversary with Mykola just a few years ago, longs for his return. "We haven't heard anything about Mykola, only the tear-off calendar on the wall remains, and March 19 is the last day a leaf was torn off… that's when he vanished," said Valentyna's daughter Liudmila Yeremenko reflecting on his disappearance. This is not the only tragedy in Valentyna's family. During the Russian occupation in March 2022, a sniper killed her granddaughter Tetiana Yeremenko. She was 47 years old.
Natalia, 35, waits for her missing husband Yuriy at her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 8, 2024. Yuriy, 39, a Ukrainian serviceman, disappeared during fighting against Russian forces on Aug. 14, 2022 near Bakhmut, Donetsk region. He joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the beginning of the full scale invasion, took part in defending the Kyiv region and was later sent to fight in the east. "He loves his family, his son, and truly loves Ukraine," Natalia said, recalling her beloved husband.
Svitlana Klymenko, 53, and her son Viacheslav, 31, wait for her husband at her apartment in Ivankiv, Kyiv region on Feb. 10, 2024. Oleh Klymenko, who worked as an emergency medical responder went missing on March 6, 2022 during the Russian occupation of Ivankiv. He vanished on his way home from work and since then his family have had no news of his whereabouts. "On the tenth day of the occupation, he went home to change clothes, to keep functioning normally, to continue working, but he didn't return to work. This happened in broad daylight," Viacheslav said. The war took the family's father but also a son Mykola, who was killed during the fighting against Russian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol in March 2022.
Liubov Opanasenko, 72, sits at home waiting for the return of her husband Oleksandr in Svitilna, Kyiv region, Ukraine on Feb. 11, 2024. A local resident Oleksandr, 71, chose to remain behind when his wife and son evacuated. He disappeared on March 9, 2022, during the Russian occupation of Svitilna. He was taken from his home by Russian forces and no one has seen him since. "Hope is all that's left, but it's there. Whenever someone returns from captivity, I immediately look to see if it's him," Liubov said.
Daryna Herasymenko, 26, waits for her missing husband Serhii in an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2024. Serhii Herasymenko, 29, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 46th Separate Air Assault Brigade disappeared during fighting at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Dec. 10, 2022. "Mentally, I am still in December (2022)," said Daryna, who has been with Serhii for seven years. "All I know is that they went on the assault, and that's it," she added.
Nina Kovalyk, 47, sits in her apartment while she waits for the return of her brother Andrii in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 11, 2024. Andrii, 48, a Ukrainian serviceman from the Territorial Defense disappeared during the fighting against Russian forces in Mariupol on March 21, 2022. His wife and two children were forced to evacuate from Mariupol through Russia and Belarus and they currently live as refugees in Poland. "He got surrounded with his battalion, no one made it out… they all disappeared without a trace," Nina says. According to an investigation's findings, Andrii's whereabouts, along with his battalion remain unknown.
Hanna Rudak, 27, sits in her rented apartment while waiting for the return of her husband Andrii in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 12, 2024. Andrii Rudak, 28, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade disappeared during the fighting against Wagner forces at the frontline in Odradivka, Donetsk region on Oct. 15, 2022. Hanna often dreams of Andrii returning to her alive. "Disappearance without a trace is a huge problem. You look at Russian Telegram channels, there lies a body, unrecognizable, and you scrutinize it by the uniform, by the hands, by the hair, hoping it's not him," Hanna says of her search for Andrii.
Former wife Olha, 35, father Arthur, 64, mother Sofia, 69, and daughter Eva, 7, await the return of Rostyslav at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 14, 2024. Rostyslav, 40, a serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting at the frontline in Mykolaivka Druha, Donetsk region, Ukraine on Sept. 13, 2022. "After some time, I found his military ID on one of the Russian telegram channels. I still believe that he is alive," said Olha.
Nina Tkachenko, 47, sits with her daughter Polina, 7, awaiting the return of her husband Vasyl at their rented apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 15, 2024. Vasyl Yurchuk, 39, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 77th Air Assault Brigade went missing during an evacuation operation of an injured comrade at the frontline in Paraskoviivka, Donetsk region, on Jan. 27, 2023. Before the full-scale invasion he was a former private businessman selling windows.
