Ukraine's Missing: Families' Despair as Thousands Remain Lost in Russian Captivity

The ongoing war in Ukraine has left many families in despair as loved ones remain missing after being taken by Russian forces. The Kyiv government estimates that nearly 16,000 civilians have been abducted. In one heartbreaking case, 77-year-old Vasyl Khylyuk and his son were taken from their home. Vasyl was released a week later, but his son, Dmytro, remains missing. "They surrounded us, threw us down. They taped our eyes shut and tied our hands," Vasyl recounted, describing the ordeal. His mother, Halyna, added, "We're old and sick. We've been without our only child for four years, not knowing where he is or how he is." A Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights lawyer, Oleksandra Matviichuk, has interviewed hundreds of survivors of Russian captivity, detailing horrific accounts of torture and abuse. The video concludes with a call for accountability from Russia for these war crimes. The memorial in Bucha, with its empty plaques for the unidentified, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing suffering.