‘My dear son’: the Ukrainian soldier who came back from the dead

The Guardian - World NewsEN 8 min read 100% complete by Shaun Walker in Velykyi DoroshivMarch 15, 2026 at 07:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 8 min

In May 2023, Nazar Daletskyi, a Ukrainian soldier, was declared dead and buried after DNA confirmed his identity. His mother, Nataliia, mourned him for almost three years, regularly visiting his grave in Velykyi Doroshiv. Unexpectedly, Nazar was released from Russian captivity as part of a prisoner exchange. He contacted his mother soon after, a moment captured in a video that went viral in Ukraine. The reunion brought immense joy after a period of grief and uncertainty. Nazar had volunteered to fight in the war and was presumed dead after going missing in action.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Lviv 40% Velykyi Doroshiv 50% Donbas 60% Russia ×380% Ukraine ×385% Nataliia Daletska ×590% Nazar Daletskyi ×895%

Keywords

nazar daletskyi 90% ukrainian soldier 90% russia-ukraine war 80% nataliia daletska 70% prisoner exchange 70% captivity 60% dna match 50% donbas conflict 50% home village 40%