Mykolaiv Rally Honours 300 Missing Ukrainian Defenders with Anthem

In the center of Mykolaiv, a rally was held to remind people of the captured and missing soldiers, where relatives held posters and flags with photos of the defenders. The event gathered about 300 people and ended with the performance of the Ukrainian anthem.

This was reported by Suspilne.

In the center of Mykolaiv, at the corner of Central Avenue and Mala Morska Street, an action was held to remind of the prisoners of war and missing defenders of Ukraine. Participants held hand-drawn posters, brigade flags, and photos of their relatives whose fate is still unknown.

Among the participants was a local resident, Iryna, who came out with her grandmother to support her husband, who has been in captivity since February 18, 2023. It is only known that he was seen when the enemy was taking him for interrogation, but there has been no news about him for almost two years.

Olga, another participant in the action, held a flag with photos of more than 60 soldiers. Her husband, Ihor Chunikhin, who went missing on November 1, 2024, in the Kursk region, was also on it. She was joined by his sister and mother, who, despite the silence of official structures, continue to search for him.

The soldier's sister, Oksana, said that this flag is passed from city to city where the relatives of the missing soldiers live. This initiative is intended to draw the attention of society and the authorities to the problem of prisoners of war and missing persons.

The event, which was attended by about 300 people, ended with the performance of the Ukrainian national anthem.

Last time, 220 people gathered for the weekly event with flags, posters and photos of their relatives and friends. Among the participants was Denis, a marine who returned from Russian captivity after 993 days. He was greeted with warm applause, and he came with his daughter.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, at least 177 Ukrainian prisoners have died in Russian prisons since the full-scale invasion. Due to the lack of international control, the actual number of deaths could be much higher.

As a result of the prisoner exchange last October, 95 Ukrainian defenders returned home. Among them are many who were sentenced to long prison terms by the occupiers: 28 people received significant sentences, and 20 were sentenced to life imprisonment for defending their own land.

Анна Бальчінос