Mother Finds Video of Son's Capture Near Bakhmut, Yet He Remains Absent from Official POW Lists

The Search for a Missing Soldier

According to Главком: Larysa Zadolianska is searching for her son, Ihor Reshetinsky, who went missing near Bakhmut. Ihor, a 27-year-old soldier mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2023, served with the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. After 28 days of training, he was deployed to the Bakhmut district, where he engaged in intense urban combat. Following a concussion, Ihor was hospitalized, but he disappeared on May 20, 2023.

A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Official Silence

Larysa Zadolianska later discovered a video, likely showing her blindfolded son being taken prisoner. This footage was found around the New Year of 2023/2024. An extract from the Coordination Headquarters states that Ihor has prisoner-of-war status, yet official bodies, including the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC), claim to have no data on him. Larysa explained:

“He disappeared on 20.05.2023. We found the video somewhere around the New Year. They finally told us we didn't have an investigator assigned. The case would be transferred to another investigator. They passed us around from pillar to post. Until we received an anonymous letter stating he was being held in Alakhinsky SIZO No. 1 in the Smolensk region.”

Larysa also found photos of her son in captivity, showing him in a cafeteria with other Ukrainian POWs. She noted: 'I recently obtained an extract from the Coordination Headquarters so the Administrative Services Center would provide benefits. It states he is considered a prisoner of war. But when I applied to the TRC to change his status, they replied they have no data on him. Ukraine conditionally accepted him as a POW because you have so much evidence.'

Larysa continues to hold onto hope that her son is alive:

“It comforts me that I know he is there. Everything confirms he is exactly there. But when I provided that video of his capture, they told me they didn't even know such a website existed. 'We don't have such a site.' But we live hoping we will meet him again and everything will be fine.”

Larysa Zadolianska's ordeal highlights the immense challenges families face in tracing soldiers missing in action during the war. The ongoing conflict has left thousands of Ukrainian families in a state of agonizing uncertainty regarding the fate of their loved ones. The lack of clear information and bureaucratic hurdles in dealing with official structures create additional distress for relatives seeking answers. The issue of prisoner-of-war status remains critically important, given the numerous cases of missing military personnel that require urgent resolution and state support.

As Larysa Zadolianska continues her search for her son, the situation brings to mind another recent case where a soldier initially believed to be dead was found alive in captivity. This remarkable turn of events highlights the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the status of missing soldiers. For more on this surprising discovery, read about how a DNA test revealed a soldier thought to be buried is actually alive.