The story of Nazar Daletskyi, a Ukrainian soldier who was declared dead and buried, only to be found alive three years later, is a heart-wrenching tale of resilience and hope amidst the chaos of war. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring love of a mother for her son.
Nazar's journey began in 1979, in the village of Velykyi Doroshiv, where he was born to Nataliia, a loving mother. Despite a challenging upbringing in the 1990s, Nazar grew up to be a sweet boy who enjoyed cuddles and close family bonds. However, his life took a dramatic turn when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Nazar, driven by a sense of duty and patriotism, volunteered at a local military unit. Despite initial setbacks, he persevered and was eventually accepted, despite some medical issues. On the Easter weekend of 2022, he left his home village for the front lines in Donbas, where he faced intense fire and was pinned down in a trench with his comrades.
The fateful day came when Nazar didn't call as usual. Nataliia's anxiety grew as she paced the house, waiting for his call. Instead, she received a devastating phone call: her son had been taken prisoner by Russian forces.
This marked the beginning of an exhausting journey for Nataliia, as she navigated government offices and NGOs, filling out forms and answering questions in her quest for information about her son's whereabouts. It was only in May 2023 that she received the worst news: Nazar had been declared dead in September 2022, on his 44th birthday.
The DNA match, confirmed by officials, left no room for doubt. Nataliia, overcome with grief, accepted the reality of her son's death and prepared for his funeral. She laid out his possessions, including a tracksuit, a smart jacket, and nice shoes, and even gave him something to eat, imagining he was hungry during his captivity.
The funeral, held at the local cemetery, was a somber affair with a crowd of villagers, eight priests, and a military band. Nazar was laid to rest next to his father, who had died three years earlier. Nataliia, exhausted by the emotional toll, found solace in praying for her son's soul every Sunday and visiting the cemetery.
However, a lingering mystery remained: why didn't Nazar appear in Nataliia's dreams during the three years and nine months he was away? This question haunted her, and it was only when her niece visited and shared news of two prisoners of war who claimed to have seen Nazar alive that a glimmer of hope emerged.
Nataliia's niece's revelation led to new DNA samples being taken, and the police confirmed that Nazar was indeed alive and still being held in Russia. In February 2024, Nazar was finally released as part of a prisoner exchange, and he was able to speak to his mother on the phone.
The reunion was emotional, with Nataliia expressing her joy and relief. Nazar, unaware of his family's grief, initially misunderstood the situation. He had wanted to send a message through a fellow prisoner but couldn't recall the phone number. Despite the trauma of his captivity, Nazar is now living in a rehabilitation center, and he and his mother communicate daily via video calls.
The story of Nazar's survival and reunion with his mother is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring love of a mother. It also raises questions about the accuracy of identification in war zones and the possibility of other families still clinging to hope for their missing loved ones.
As Nazar continues his journey towards recovery, Nataliia eagerly awaits his return home, planning to cook his favorite meals and share a tight embrace, a moment she has longed for since his disappearance. The Velykyi Doroshiv cemetery, with its freshly churned earth and a yellow-blue metal board bearing the slogan 'Heroes do not die,' stands as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought in the war against Russia.
