Marichka Padalko’s Son Joins the Military
Ukrainian television presenter Marichka Padalko has shared details about her son Mykhailo Sobolev’s enlistment. At age 18, he signed a contract under the 18-24 program to serve as a drone pilot for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Padalko says the anxiety she feels for her son—now serving in the armed forces—is incomparable to what she experienced when her husband was mobilized. Her son asked her not to speak publicly about him, so his fellow soldiers would not know about his famous parents. She is now counting down the days until his two-year contract ends, which marks his defined term of service.
Sobolev stepped up to defend the country at 18, after finishing his first year of studies at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Since his enlistment, Padalko has only seen him in photos wearing military uniform.
'I can’t picture him on a combat mission. Maybe I don’t even want those images in my head—just to protect my own sanity, to get through waking up and falling asleep,' Marichka Padalko said. She added that when she has moments of intense worry, they are not tied to his military service.
Parental Anxiety
'Comparing my husband’s mobilization to my son’s is like comparing apples and oranges... The amount of worry and fear I feel for my son is on another level. It’s still something I can’t fully comprehend or accept,' Padalko commented. She emphasized that her son, who was just a little child playing football five years ago, now carries enormous responsibility.
'He’s achieving fantastic results, but war brings trials you’re simply not ready for at 19,' the TV host added.
Padalko expressed concern about the possibility of her son extending his contract: 'I’m not waiting for anything in life, but I am desperately waiting for these two years to end. Of course, it’s not certain he won’t want to extend. I’m afraid to even talk about it.' She believes that setting clear terms for service members and their families could ease daily life and relationships, as well as improve the overall atmosphere in society.
The mobilization of young people in Ukraine has become a source of deep worry for many parents, who fear for their children joining the armed forces. Discussions around service durations and possible extensions highlight the critical need to support soldiers and their families during this difficult time. The TV host’s reflections may help spark broader conversations about youth military service and the challenges they face both on the front lines and at home.