Watch: Ukrainian soldier thought to be dead calls his family

Ukrainian service member Nazar Daletskyi made an emotional phone call to his family this week following his return from Russian captivity, nearly two years after he was officially declared dead by military authorities. Daletskyi was originally reported killed in action in 2022 during the chaotic first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaving his relatives to mourn a loss they believed was final. The unexpected reconnection occurred after a recent prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow, which facilitated the release of several Ukrainian defenders who had been missing for years. The story of Daletskyi highlights the deep administrative and psychological complexities of the ongoing conflict, where the fog of war often leads to misidentification and false reports of fatalities. For two years, his family lived under the impression that he had perished on the battlefield, only to discover through recent intelligence and subsequent liberation that he had actually been held as a prisoner of war. Video footage documenting the first phone call shows the profound shock and relief of his relatives as they realized the man they thought was dead was actually alive and returning home. Historically, prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia have served as a vital, albeit irregular, mechanism for returning soldiers and civilians to their respective countries. These swaps are often the only way for families to receive definitive information regarding the status of loved ones listed as missing in action. Daletskyi’s return is part of a broader effort by the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War to track down and repatriate thousands of estimated captives still held in Russian detention facilities. As the war nears its third year, Daletskyi’s case provides a rare moment of hope for thousands of other Ukrainian families who continue to search for missing soldiers. Military officials noted that while administrative errors regarding casualties are rare, the intensity of the 2022 invasion caused significant disruptions in reporting. Daletskyi is currently receiving medical and psychological support as he reintegrates into society after his lengthy ordeal in captivity.