In an extraordinary turn of events that defies all expectations of wartime tragedy, a Ukrainian soldier believed killed in action has returned alive after nearly four years of captivity. Nazar Daletskyi, whose family had held a funeral and buried what they believed were his remains in 2023, miraculously contacted his mother from Ukrainian territory following his release in a prisoner exchange with Russia.
The emotional reunion began with a phone call that left the family in overwhelming disbelief and joy. Nataliya, Daletskyi’s mother, described the moment as emotionally overwhelming, questioning whether her son had all his limbs intact before declaring, ‘My golden child, I have been waiting for you so long.’ The family’s celebration was captured on video, showing cousin Roksolana screaming and jumping with euphoria at the impossible news.
Daletskyi’s journey back to his family represents both a miracle and an administrative mystery. The 42-year-old experienced soldier had immediately returned to combat when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, having previously fought in the conflict since 2014. He went missing in action in May 2022, with the family receiving a mysterious Russian-language call suggesting his capture but providing no substantiating details.
The tragedy deepened when authorities identified a badly burned body through DNA matching as Daletskyi’s remains in 2023, leading to a formal funeral and burial. The family’s grief turned to confusion in September 2024 when a newly released soldier reported seeing Daletskyi alive in captivity. This week, the confirmation came directly from Daletskyi himself in what constitutes one of the most remarkable survival stories of the Ukraine conflict.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the mistaken identification that led to the funeral, while the family focuses on preparing for Daletskyi’s homecoming with his favorite homemade foods. The case highlights the complex reality of wartime disappearances in Ukraine, where approximately 70,000 people remain officially missing, most presumed to be soldiers either killed with unrecoverable bodies or held prisoner.
For countless Ukrainian families awaiting news of missing loved ones, Daletskyi’s return offers a powerful symbol of hope against overwhelming odds.