Ukrainian Family Awaits Father’s Return from Russian Captivity, Reports Reuters

By Yurii Kovalenko and Stefaniia Bern

KYIV – Every Sunday in Kyiv, two-year-old Tymofii carries a photo of his father at gatherings organized by activists and family members to raise awareness about the thousands of Ukrainian soldiers held as prisoners of war by Russia.

Tymofii was not yet one year old when he last saw his father, Denys Chumak, who was captured while fighting in the besieged southeastern port city of Mariupol in May 2022.

“I am not alone,” said his mother, Alisa, referencing the crowd of about 100 people surrounding her. “On one hand, this makes it easier, but on the other, it’s more painful because there are many other women like me and many children like my son.”

According to Ukrainian officials, around 8,000 individuals, including civilians and military personnel, remain in Russian captivity due to the full-scale invasion that began two years ago this month.

Mariupol experienced some of the most intense fighting during the conflict. Ukrainian forces, including Denys, fought hard to fend off Russian advances before ultimately being ordered to surrender when further defense became impossible.

The Chumak family moved to Mariupol in 2020, and that is where Tymofii was born. When he was eight months old, Alisa fled with him while Denys chose to stay and fight with the National Guard.

“Denys and I dreamed of him coming home before Tymofii turned one. But his first birthday passed without his presence,” Alisa recalled. “Tymofii took his first steps without him and spoke his first words … And we are still waiting.”

The toughest part for Alisa has been raising her son without his father, which has left the boy feeling “very lonely” due to the lack of male attention.

At 25, Alisa tries to maintain Tymofii’s connection to Denys, now 30, by sharing the few photos they have of their time together. “His father is just a picture,” she reflected.

The last day they were together in the spring of 2022 is etched in her memory, resembling scenes from “horrible war movies.” As she stood outside in slippers, shaken by nearby shelling, Denys handed her supplies for protection. They were rushed and didn’t even embrace. He told her he loved them before jumping into a car, continuing to help defend the Azovstal steelworks as Russian forces encircled the city.

The next time Alisa saw Denys was in a video from a detention facility in Russian-controlled territory in summer 2022. He was later transferred to Russia that autumn. Last summer, Alisa saw him on a Russian channel, where he appeared recognizable but “looking 10 years older.” She hasn’t seen him since.

Ukrainian authorities report about 50 prisoner exchanges involving roughly 3,000 individuals, mostly from the armed forces, since the war began. Recently, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 100 soldiers from each side, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted that many of the released POWs had participated in the defense of Mariupol.

Alisa believes that continued international pressure could aid in securing further prisoner exchanges. “As long as people remember and raise awareness, my husband and other POWs still have a chance to return home alive,” she stated.