A Russian POW Calls His Mother, Who Had Already Reported Him Missing

The Case of Ilya

According to Главком: A captured Russian soldier named Ilya managed to call his mother. Journalist Dmytro Karpenko made the conversation public. During the call, the woman showed little emotion, instead complaining of poor health, a lack of money, and problems with her phone. She informed him that the family had already officially reported him as missing in action.

Ilya, who worked as an electrician, was captured after being sent on a work assignment. During the call, he expressed a desire for his mother to contact his military unit to confirm he was alive.

"Call the unit, tell them I'm alive, at least," the prisoner stated.

However, both his mother and sister refused to engage with him further. This highlights the profound psychological toll the war takes on families, often fracturing communication in moments of crisis.

The Family's Emotional State

In the conversation, the mother asked:

"What happened? Let me talk to him"

and

"And what now? What needs to be done?"

She also mentioned they had already 'filed the paperwork stating you were missing.' According to Ilya, his mother has struggled with long-term alcohol abuse, which likely complicated their relationship during this traumatic event.

This situation underscores the critical importance of family bonds during crises and the vulnerability of families caught in the turmoil of armed conflict. The circumstances Ilya finds himself in are likely shared by many servicemen and their relatives enduring similar hardships due to the war. The conversation between mother and son reveals complex relational dynamics under extreme stress, including emotional distance and communication breakdowns.