Missing In Action: A Russian Soldier's Mother Desperately Seeks Answers

Olga Sidorenko was born in Kharkiv in the Soviet era but moved to Russia 25 years ago and raised two sons there. One of them is a Russian soldier who went missing in the Kharkiv region, in eastern Ukraine, on March 16. Sidorenko also has a stepson in a government-controlled area of Ukraine.
Originally published at - www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukrain...
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#russia #ukraine

[@zebmars8944]

Stop the War, Russia go home.

[@haydengalloway5177]

Ukrainians started the war in 2014 when they overthrew a democratically elected president and reacted violently to a peaceful Donbass independence movement. Russia is just finishing it. The war will end when Ukraine goes home back to Kyiv and leaves ethnic Russian lands in the Donbass.

[@zebmars8944]

@@haydengalloway5177 "democratically elected" by the Russian state.

[@gordanajovanovic3892]

Nato , eu, usa is problem ! ! ! and zelenski. IDIOTS !

[@zebmars8944]

@@gordanajovanovic3892 Yeah right, everybody else is the problem. Russia isn't even a democracy.

[@voskan]

Russia is home. you f...off Russia and it will not have to bite back.

[@OstblockLatina]

At this point the official claim about the woman's DNA not matching any soldiers' remains may be a lie too. "Lost in action" is a common excuse to hide the knowledge about the casualties, in order to deny their families the right to file for financial compensation. And of course to hide the real size of army losses. Aside from that, for a couple of months already the Russian side is refusing to collect the bodies of its killed soldiers from Ukrainians, who actually go to various lengths to identify and preserve the bodies for later burial.

[@c.erine78]

@@deedee3530 the Ukrainians are in the process of digging up the mass graves of the Russian soldiers bodies that have been left behind, they are storing them on refrig train cars until they can possibly be identified.

[@daya820]

True

[@khiem1939]

True, the Ukraine has refrigerated railroad cars filled with the bodies of dead Russian soldiers, bodies which Russia refuses to accept!

[@alonsocushing2263]

And I suspect that the Russian use of DNA for identification would be haphazard at best.

[@carlosr944]

I agreed....the Military in Latin America did similar during 1980s claiming people were 'missing' ...no body, no legal matter to deal with...she is brave to show her face and do that call to the Ministry

[@mihavlasov8776]

He knew this city, admired it... and went to war against the city he admired. How to call such people? What's in their heads? Sawdust?

[@stamfordmeetup]

The sawdust in his head has now been replaced with lead. It's the only way to stop the Russians from killing Ukrainian civilians.

[@notroll1279]

He was probably sent somewhere inside Russia or Belarus "for an exercise" and then ordered to cross the border with his unit - always under the watch of the military police. He was not given a choice which country or town to attack.

[@majungasaurusaaaa]

When you're drafted, you have no choice. It's either go there, get shot or refuse, stay and get shot by your own police.

Exactly. Traitors.

[@mihavlasov8776]

@@majungasaurusaaaa There is always a choice, and it is better to die with dignity than to be ingloriously killed as an occupant.

[@PeetHobby]

Putin cause so many unnecessary grief on both sides of the borders, he will burn in hell for it.

[@TOMAS-lh4er]

The media MUST get reports like this through to the mothers in Russia, They must know that Putin has thrown away their sons lives !!!

[@dudeiplayhockey]

Millions of Russians support this. It's hardly one person.

[@voskan]

US brings hell

[@dudeiplayhockey]

@@voskan I guess Russia has given up on logical arguments and fallen back to "no u".

[@voskan]

@@dudeiplayhockey no logic, you are right, only facts. Pity, million of "collateral damage" in Iraq etc wont speak for themselves.

[@geekhippie7309]

Her son was probably left on the side of the road to rot by his fellow "soldiers."

[@ronwyneking2763]

What these Old Men are doing to our children, shame on them, poor mum, teaching brothers to fight family. Peace

[@rulerofroombas1443]

They could fight if they wanted to

[@JJamJ]

All this heartache for one evil man’s deluded dream!

[@textech4056]

All to keep Putin in Power.

[@alicelund147]

No it is not one mans dream.

[@aussiechris570]

Yes one man's dream, the others are brainwashed.

[@brrsgraham6181]

It's about the large gas reserves found in Ukraine between 2010 to 2012. It's not a coincidence that the territories Russia seeks are exactly on the biggest gas fields. The proximity to the sea and to Europe would make Russian gas uncompetitive for the next three decades. A lot of careful thought and planning went into this.

[@madyogi6164]

@@brrsgraham6181 But what do you think? How it's going to be now? Is ruZZian gas going to be "competitive". Looks like sooner than later, Europe will entirely quit on dealing with kremlin mobsters and reach for resources located elsewhere. Even for a price. Yes, there are other countries that can coop with the gang. The question is, will they pay as much as Europe did.

[@williamcooper2415]

Many thousands of Russian soldiers were dumped like trash to rot on the ground or covered in shallow graves, to never be discovered. How sad that they died in vain and how horrible to lose a child for the illegal ambitions of one man.

[@not_yourbusiness1820]

That's not sad at all in my opinion, they decided to join war against innocent people. Those are the consequences. Think before you act is good rule for life. He would be raping and killing with smile on his ruzzian face if Ukraine didn't fought her son and put him to the...

[@countmorbid3187]

It is not just one man. The whole fascist nationalistic movement ... regarding themselves as the superior race ... needs fertile soil to root. The Russian ppl have supported this idiot during all of his conflicts committing war crimes ... Georgia, Syria, Chechnya, Donbas, Crimea ... and only now they start to "revolt" a little bit? Nearly all that remember the Soviet-Union times want that back.

[@haydengalloway5177]

Across Russia buildings and billboards are painted with the faces of heroes of the war. And when the people of Donbass can finally sleep without having their cities shelled by sadistic Ukrainian nationalists who deny their right to exist in their own homeland just because they are ethnic Russians, the sacrifice of the Russian soldiers who died defending them will not be in vain at all.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

One evil man who is supported by over 80% of Russians. What does that make them?

[@c.erine78]

Exactly, the ones who could be gathered are in the train cars put there by the Ukrainian government for Family's to find.

[@nightengale7163]

Heartbreaking 💔 But ..... the Russian people have their heads in the sand. Unless they want more of the same, they must rise up. Their lives are based on Putin's lies and instability. They have strength in numbers. May this lady find some peace 🙏

[@Medionxtr]

So true - the Russian dont hear, dont see, dont wanne know !

[@jiminauburn5073]

@@Medionxtr Many hear and see. But they only see and hear the state-run media and they believe what they are being told. You see the same in the west as well. Look at how all the news was about Trump/Russia collusion. And in the end, nothing there. But everyone believed it because they saw it on the news. Even now, people still think that there was collusion. Once you get people believing something, it is hard for them to change their minds. You saw it with the Rittenhouse case. You saw it with the "fine people on both sides" quote by Trump. You saw it with the Hunter Biden laptop is Russian disinformation campaign. You see it all the time when the media lies and creates a narrative, and they feed off of each other, and then people hear it many times, so they believe it, when in reality, it is not true. So many Russians, especially older Russians only get their news from the Russian TV. And they are told and believe that Ukraine is run by Nazis. That Ukraine was planning an attack on Russia for February 26th, so Russia had to invade to prevent it two days before. They believed at first that Russia was easily winning, and there were few deaths. But that lie is kind of exposed as they see more and more young men in their communities wind up dead.

[@tossaja]

You cannot rise up in RuZZia, too dangerous.

[@whoisme678]

Can't help but feel her anguish. It's an unfortunate thing about war, people die. The attacks we've all seen played out on YT show just how fragile life is in a war zone and yes, unless the Russian people organise themselves to stop this madness caused by Putin, then it will continue and many more Russian and Ukrainian lives will be lost. I can only hope that before 2022 is over that something within Russia brings this war to an end.

[@Blind_Hawk]

You know that overthrowing a whole goverment isnt easy right? How delusional can someone be to think that some protests will help deputinise Russia?

[@MultiChuckleberry]

Imagine being in a tank with 30 rounds of tank ammunition. It gets hit and the ammo detonates. There is no body left, no bones - not even ash. Any remnants are blown all over the immediate locality as smoke, together with torn pieces of steel. My heart bleeds for this poor woman. She may never know what happened to her son.

[@emigrator08]

We can hope he's in Lviv with his half brother.

[@jasonforester7292]

Mostly true, but not always true. Sometimes the turret blows off sky high with body parts from the tank commander and gunner. My guess is that her son, being 19 years old, was maybe a driver of a tank or BMP. Basically a death sentence for him.

[@jonye7511]

There will be many more mothers like her who will never have answers unless Ukraine was able to collect DNA evidence.

[@geertstroy]

But she has not shown the slightest interest in what lovvaboy may have DONE TO INNOCENT PEOPLE . not one single remorse or empathy beyond her OWN microbubble. She is NOT a person to feel empathy to, she is a numb piece of the systen RuSSia.

[@madyogi6164]

Well, looks like you just gave a good clue!

[@sonsaraeronnow4404]

I only have tears for the children of Ukraine, for those mother's of Ukraine children with empty arms because of a Russian soldier!

[@Zdraviski]

@Ace Point I would not consider him as "erased", but rather as "denazified".

[@Cpt.BEARDless]

Do you have any for anyone else? 32 wars ongoing right now on earth and you only care about this one. Slava ukraini.

[@markogaudiosi5243]

All of you are disgusting .

[@rulerofroombas1443]

I’ve seen some commenters complaining that Muscovites are being “dehumanized”. If they don’t want to be dehumanized then they should act like humans, and not like a horde of monsters.

[@ReySchultz121]

I'm willing to bet the boy really didn't wanna do this.

[@billfussman8859]

I feel badly for this woman's grief, but until the Russian people realize that their dictator is slowly destroying not only Ukraine, but their own country, and rise up, and take control of their country, more pain, grief, misery, and isolation from the rest of the world is what they will live. Those who don't learn from the past, are doomed to relive it. Wake up!!!!!

[@odetedasilva1322]

Yes, I Agee with you, WHY another war added to the dark, painful history? When a country causes war to Another, they shouldn't be in denial that they too will go through some suffering & loss.

[@rockchildofthe60s69]

Yeah I am finding sympathy for any Russian very hard to come by especially being they have none for Ukrainian mothers and children

[@alexpost8316]

You don't understand much of what's going on in Russia. We are in the occupation of Putin's bandit gang. In our country, the police are detaining for yellow-blue tones in clothes, for the Wi-Fi name "Glory to Ukraine", for the number 35 (no war) on the badge. From morning to night propaganda and lies are pouring from the TV. People report on neighbors if they do not support the war. Prison sentences are long, and in Russian prisons it is very difficult for political prisoners to survive. Putin has a huge police army, people are downtrodden and disenfranchised. Pensioners from poverty get food in garbage cans. And you say "Get up"

[@voskan]

she is Ukrainian, her husband is Ukrainian, her son is Ukrainian.

[@keithdunwoody1302]

Russians are weak and afraid. They've been cowed into submission, declawed, zombified.

[@fredgrigsby2682]

Sad. Unfortunately for tens of thousands of Russian mothers, their sons and daughters are not coming home.

[@romanfrenkel8717]

Sad? You are sad that the perpetrators of genocide are getting killed?

[@fredgrigsby2682]

@@romanfrenkel8717 First, I didn't say that you did. I simply made a comment about mothers losing their loved ones in combat. The one job I dreaded most when I served in the Military, was when I served as a casualty notification officer. Not a pleasant experience. Remember the quote as it applies to both the victor and the defeated, “Only the dead have seen the end of war”. Have a good day.

[@cl4re4d4ms]

I’m more concerned about the Ukrainian sons and daughters.

[@wokeaf1337]

wait, I doubt that RuZZia is using female soldiers on the front.

[@petermaier78]

Their sons went to bring death and destruction to their so called brothers of Ukraine. They may rot in hell for all I care.

[@fimbles1015]

They know hes dead. They just report him as missing to save paying the families. Hes probably in a mass grave.

[@tarmactracker]

Terrible situation for the family to be in and I'm sad to say they are very unlikely to get any help from the Russians. I suggest they try to contact the Ukrainians, they apparently have a phoneline to help families who are looking for answers about lost/missing and possibly deceased family members. Being Ukrainian originally it should not take long for her to be able to discover that phone number. Two bits of information I managed to find are: 1. The hotline, reportedly called “Ishchi Svoikh” (Look For Your Own). 2. The hotline, called "Come Back From Ukraine Alive," was established by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. I have no idea which, if any is the one to try, but getting either might be helpful.

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

In recent years Kharkiv under Ukraine became much nicer than 99% of russian cities. Lots of developments, and then russians touch it and it goes to rubbish in no time. This is ruskiy mir- destruction, theft, deceit... but no ability to create.

100%

[@digitalzips]

If they ever, God forbid, get to keep it one can imagine the bribes being paid to contractors to rebuild it. It's what Russians do best, corruption.

[@Trollripper]

"Brother fighting against his own Brother"

[@jeckjeck3119]

Not even close. Ukraine and Ru are not brothers. Latter was ALWAYS the oppressor.

[@christinecalifornia8136]

Just like the North versus South...civil war carried out by madmen,brother made to fight brother. The end of this whole world is closing in on all of us...we destroy our planet,we kill each other for stupid things,people are hungry,the old are abandoned and what used to be known as a solid family unit is falling apart!! Very sad!!

Ukraini and ruSSia are not brothers. ruski mir has always oppressed, invaded, enslaved, slaughtered their neighbours. Brothers my ass. Fvck ruSSia Slava Ukraini 💙 💛

[@lukeamato2348]

Let's hope he just left his unit and ran off

[@raimobrunning3657]

The defeat of the terrorist organization known as Russian Federation's government is a necessary step for civilization, humanity and development. The victory of Ukraine is also a victory for all Russian people.

[@pamelahansen5928]

My heart breaks for mothers on both sides- the only way this will stop is if the Russians refuse to fight

[@pantherowow77]

No. Thats not the only way.

[@jeckjeck3119]

@@pantherowow77 Lots of Ru buildings suddenly expl0d!ng would stop it.

[@anabelpineda9976]

I’m sorry no empathy for her Ukraine mother didn’t have any choice she did

[@dayokemiolorunlonimi6536]

Thank you U very right Breaks bone if necessary nigeria have serious issues but I can't imagine destroying it

[@christophernicolson5086]

Riots and unrest could force Russia to withdraw, because as much as they want to expand the empire they want to keep what they have. Highly attritional stalemate could force a coup Battlefield victory would still result in continued crippling sanctions so it might be a victory but it won't be stable, especially due to partisan warfare and arms smuggling. Battlefield defeat force a coup. Gradually cooling into semi-agreed stalemate.

[@DogBrotherhood]

What people don’t understand is that sometimes, many times, there’s nothing left to identify. Not even enough to do a DNA sample.

[@rtqii]

Russian soldiers have seen this often enough with their own eyes to know it is true... No bodies inside the tanks for instance, after the turrets fly... No trace of the crew.

[@12time12]

@@rtqii yep, or he got washed down a river and snacked on by catfish. If I recall correctly, this date and location matches up pretty closely with that 1500 dead 70 tank pileup on the Siverski-Donets River bridgehead.

[@jammydoughnut]

I cannot imagine he's alive. This is typical of putler, he couldn't care less the people (his cannon fodder)

[@kingnevermore25]

Cannon fodder? Are you talking about Ukrainians since they have way more losses than the Russians plus they are sending under equipped and inexperienced soldiers to the frontline

[@jammydoughnut]

@@kingnevermore25 maybe you should follow the context here... the context is only russia

[@kingnevermore25]

@@jammydoughnut So both are sending cannon fodder? Lol.

[@jammydoughnut]

@@kingnevermore25 no, the point is only concerning russia 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@kingnevermore25]

@@jammydoughnut No its not. Its also untrue.

[@onebit1350]

So the report of heavy losses must have been true, all the evidence points to this. Russian mothers needs to get together and go protest, this is the only way to stop more senseless loss of young men on both sides.

[@staypuft899]

I think it's common sense for anyone there is heavy loss on both sides. Russia just continues to lie and they continue to believe it. The few who speak up get shut up.

[@khiem1939]

Somewhere around 34,000 Russian DEAD if you count the Russian Separatists!

[@drefhill]

it's not heavy losses. It's only around 50000 it's nothing for a country with like 140 millions people.

[@als1023]

@@drefhill Great comment ! Thanks for posting !!

[@jimwright1148]

The mothers should unite and rise up!he cannot put everybody in jail,people power is stronger than the will of one cruel idiot!🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@viktor_1939_]

а кто вам виноват? Войну начали а теперь плачут.

[@jeckjeck3119]

Ru is 100% to blame.

[@sirdiealot53]

The Russian people need to wake the fuck up and stop being zombies. Get out of Ukraine and FUCK PUTIN

[@cl4re4d4ms]

Exactly. The russian fascists started the war and are responsible for all deaths.

[@DVAmarkera]

Простите, а у вас мозг заточен просто на то чтобы спросить кто виноват и что-то еще огрызнуться? К чему эти сраные бесконечные риторические вопросы. Сука у человека горе, нахуя эта злая душка

[@Alexrulzzzz]

@@jeckjeck3119 1000%.

[@ramspace]

It won't sway Putin.

[@MADMAX-fs6gc]

I’m truly surprised that russian families like this one haven’t totally lost it, and “gone postal” on government officials.

[@JesusMagicPanties]

Please consider that for centuries, the Russian mentality has accepted any action by the authorities as "Russian fate." The word "freedom" ( svoboda) is sounding almost like anarchy and mutiny themselves - and been used and understood there almost as an insult and the result of the influence of the "decadent West"....

[@rulerofroombas1443]

They’ve been living like that for centuries, being hurt by heir deranged leaders, never fighting back. Even the Russian revolution in 1917 was orchestrated by Germany to destabilize the eastern front during WW1. They’re a population of passive zombies, just like their ancestors. The worst is that they’re even proud of being hurt, seeing going through hard times as something to be proud of instead of waking up and improving their own conditions.

[@finley3186]

what is even worse than having no hope? Having a little sliver of hope that never goes away...

[@susanwestern6434]

Almost certainly not a prisoner. Sadly she will probably never know for sure, if he was in an incinerated tank or other vehicle. No DNA for samples.

[@bismark911]

I am very sorry for these mothers .. but it is their fault that they have Putin in the government. this is the price for indifference ..

[@TroenderTass]

It is very true. How many russians are indifferent to their politics and the suffering they put on Ukrainians, them self, and other nations. Most of them. Look at the Ukrainians and other previously soviet blocks, try pushing russian politics on to them. They'll have non of it. Russians are the cause of their own suffering with their indifference.

[@bevevans9411]

Putin is no hero.

[@marlecmarine5393]

He is 100% killed in action probably incinerated. That is what can happens when you let your son invade another country. Unbelievable really, she is Ukrainian yet she lets her son join the Russian army who have effectively been at war with Ukraine since 2014. There are many more mothers on the Ukrainian side in a similar position.

[@Z1VA]

No. Ukrainian mothers know their son died for a good cause and will be seen as a martyr. As oppose to the russian side where they rather cover up their loses

[@badgerresistance4322]

He's probably in semi truck 🚚 freezer.

[@iamric23]

She is right when she said that this war was pointless.

[@goldeagle8051]

Can you name one war that wasn't pointless if you think about it?

[@iamric23]

@@goldeagle8051 America's civil war, ww1, ww2, 1st Iraq war

[@goldeagle8051]

@@iamric23 Thought you'ld say that and obviously once those wars started it wasn't pointless in defeating the 'bad' side, just like it's not pointless now for Russia to be defeated. The above and other wars all had an imperialistic / influential sphere factor or were due to clashing political or economic views. The current war is Russia trying to keep Ukraine in its influence sphere as Ukraine wants to join the EU/NATO/West. So either all these wars were pointless as they could have been avoided by goodwill and concessions from both sides prior or no war is pointless as it always serves to strenghten one's negotiating position.

[@iamric23]

@@goldeagle8051 The reason that I agreed with her was that this war is pointless. Do you know why Putin tried to take Ukraine? Long story, he read about the great czars of the past from his country and other famous leaders while covid was rampant in his country. He decided right then and there that he wanted to bring back all the states that left in 1991, so he thought that by starting off in Kyiv that he would march right in and take the capital and arrest the president. When that went horribly wrong, he had no choice but to keep going. He could of stopped but he would of looked like a fool instead of a great czar that he was trying to be like. This is why it is pointless, he will never take over Ukraine and all the people that have died for his ideals are lost forever, pointless.

[@dayokemiolorunlonimi6536]

After her sons have gone Missing She should have tied them to her panties if necessary If they had come back home with watching machines and toilet bowls

[@yvonnetomenga5726]

Another commenter posted this near the beginning of the war. The words are something that all mothers living in peace should ponder. I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy, Who dares to put a musket on his shoulder To shoot some other mother's darling boy? Let nations arbitrate their future troubles, lt time to lay the sword and gun away, There'd be no war today, If mothers all would say, I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier. ~ Possibly for a WW I song. 💪🇺🇦🕊🌻

[@jonye7511]

So where did Putin's mother go wrong?

[@h_r7708]

@@jonye7511 She didn't have an abortion. Unwanted children go through Hell and then they pass that pain down for generations.

[@doffydelbridge7899]

E

[@bentungale1640]

Very important words

[@zenica12]

Sadly for the mother, I think he is gone. If he was POW, he would be exchanegd by now.

[@christieprince6188]

Or at least call home to say he is alive.

[@deandake9041]

At least she knows he died for no reason.

[@davidtennien39]

The Russian people need to rise up and stop this war. My heart breaks for this woman, but also all the Ukrainian mothers that are lost sons and husbands

[@voskan]

you need to stop to rise up people elsewhere. Make hell in your own country.

[@kathleenkendalljacksgrandm6902]

Sorry for parents on all sides.

[@joneal8360]

It's sad. She moved to Russia to choose that life. Prayers for all.

[@Basement_CNC]

yeah especially for ukraine, light those russians in their tanks of fire , you did nothing wrong anf have to defend your country

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

I'm happy when ethnic russians and supporters go to russia and out of Ukraine, because they don't belong in the first place.

[@christinecalifornia8136]

I agree....she chose to live in oppression. I really have hard time feeling sorry for any Russians...the parents of these murdering pigs are just as clueless as their offspring. Brainwashing,denial,lies and fear of death or disappearing for having ones own opinion is not a place I would choose to raise my children!!!!

[@wokeaf1337]

"missing in action" means less work for the government and also no payment

[@JETWTF]

I have little pity for the woman but allot more for the father. He said the war was pointless and she snapped back that it is not because she can't go back to Kharkiv. She wants Russia to take Kharkiv from Ukraine so she can go there whenever she wants is what her statement said. Sad she lost a son and doesn't know where he is but the pity ends right there.

[@lynnkayee1015]

No, she said "Absolutely. It's not only pointless..." then went on about how she can't go back. She agreed it was pointless.

[@cloxurf9603]

ITS A MOTHER LOSING HER SON, WHAT WOULD YOUR MOTHER FEEL IF YOU DIED IN WAR SHOW SOME RESPECT YOU DUMBWIT good christ some ppl are really evil

[@7vampirycprf6d32]

Dein Feind ist immer der hinter Dir, der Dir 1 Gewehr gibt+ sagt, auf wen Du schießen sollst.

[@kingnevermore25]

If he is missing in action that probably means he is dead. Rotting in some hole or still unidentified in a morgue. Sad but true.

[@mishaillich9728]

Terrible situation for a mother, not knowing about her son. The control of internal communications, laws that imprison those who are against the war, measures that oppress the people that a tyrant claims to defend. Only they can move their ruler!!!

[@jacquinikora3261]

I'm so sorry for your suffering and uncertainty. May you find your darling son. There is no mother who would want to be in this situation. You have an understanding partner. War doesn't discriminate. It creates loss, sadness and insanity.

[@vivavideo-videofilmer]

you have to thank your dear Leader Uncle Vova....

[@user-ty2uz4gb7v]

All of this so that russia, a nation already rich with energy resources, could have just a little bit more.

[@Jabberstax]

He's dead, that's it. Sorry but life is cheap in Russia.

[@brokeandtired]

She could try contacting Ukrainians military to see if he was taken prisoner....but yeah the Russians either left him to rot in the field or disappeared her sons body into a mass grave to hid Russia's losses.

[@viktorviktorski183]

And most don't even care and they are trading their sons for ladas

[@arealhauntedhouse4171]

Life seems to be CHEAP all around the Globe🌏🌎🌍 LATELY! I feel Sorry for BOTH Sides, Wish they would come to an Agreement. Maybe make the Leader's FIGHT it OUT instead thousands of military people & INNOCENT citizen & TheiR FAMILIES.💔😢✌🏼

[@arealhauntedhouse4171]

@@viktorviktorski183 I doubt that that's what's going on for god sakes! 🤦🏻 what a statement.❄ You're either a TROLL or you just like to be purposely IGNORANT🤡

[@notroll1279]

Did she call the Russian or the Ukrainian MoD hotline? It may sound strange - but especially in the early days of the war, the Russians left many of their dead behind so Ukraine set up a hotline for Russian soldiers' families to enquire whether Ukraine had any prisoners, wounded or killed soldiers under a given name. It's a brilliant propaganda move to show more respect to those families than their own army has....

[@khiem1939]

True, the Ukraine even took pictures of their I.D. Cards and put them on the internet saying they were KIA or WIA and in custody!

[@deleaptealeaf8935]

Some mother's actually swore at the Ukrainians when they gave them the bad news. Some said all Ukrainians will die a rotten death. So, the response to that has been mixed.

[@notroll1279]

@@deleaptealeaf8935 You're dealing with the indoctrinated grand public of a military adversary - telling them your forces have killed or maimed their son, husband, fiancé. So obviously, not everyone will thank Ukraine for the news. So while you can't reach them all, every single positive humane communication is a success.

[@danielkol477]

Bro are you fucking stupid? This shit happens in every single war. The term MIA wasn't invented on 24.02. Every single army that experiences heavy fighting has a number of MIA.

[@TobyLovesLife]

Mothers, don't let you children join the military. Say no to Russia's aggression. Say no to Putin's madness. My heart goes out to you, hoping that your son is safe in Ukrainian custody as a prisoner of war and not dead.

[@Cleonhide2]

We are tired of hearing these nonsense... Like hell they don't know what their sons were getting into.

[@cloxurf9603]

They didnt.

[@joshlanier8567]

Man I couldn't imagine the grief that family is going through... A husband and wife whose sons are literally fighting against each other and the woman doesn't know where her son is... The last call was wishing her a happy birthday and then nothing. I hope for her sake that he was captured or he made a run for it. If he made a run for it and then the Russians shot him they probably wouldn't even tell her that he died. Just MIA... The good news is he knows the area so maybe he is alive somewhere.... But imagine for his sake he's having to shell out a city where his grandparents live.... And then having to shoot the very military that protects that city .. these people are pure evil

[@khiem1939]

In many areas of the Ukraine, Putin has placed the Chechens behind the Russian soldiers to shoot them if they flee the combat area!

[@hourbee5535]

0:32 "they were sent there as cannon fodder" Well, that is all you need to know.

[@relaxationstation7374]

It sure would be nice if all of this could be brought to a stop!

[@dcal1736]

The moral of this story is that she as a mother should have talked to her son and told him he was going to kill innocent men, women and children. He lived by the sword and he died by the sword. No sympathy from me.

[@cloxurf9603]

You actual idiot. Most men are forced to fight and some get executed if they dont. This isnt their fault, its putins fault. Go learn some empahty for a young woman losing family. Imagine that happening to your own mother 🇷🇺❤🇺🇦

[@ivandvoinenko5449]

Her son had a choice. He could have refused to go to Ukraine. She is from Kharkiv and her son probably lost his life in the Kharkiv region. She didn't stop him when she could. She is talking about her pain but didn't mention that her son and his comrades have brought pain and suffering here.

[@chipishor]

Exactly!

[@wokeaf1337]

How can u stop someone that doesnt want to be stopped? by using violence?

[@cloxurf9603]

If he refused he would most likely be executed or prisoned

[@L2Xenta]

Horrible situation. If this war continues.... this war for so called "Russkiy Mir" starts to look more and more like the Lebensraum justification . Either way sorry for your loss.

[@thilomanten8701]

Russkiy Mir is Ruzzia "Lebensraum" and Blood and Soil ideology - make no mistake

[@tjohanne]

@@thilomanten8701 Amen. They must be stopped.

[@SaturnineXTS]

Russia has 20 times more Lebensraum than they'll ever need - it's probably about the wealthy natural resources in Donbas and Putin's dreams of restoring the Empire.

[@L2Xenta]

@@SaturnineXTS Yea... his legacy and his name in Russian books of history were far more important than people's lives... I wouldn't want to live in a country where your imperialism is more valued than lives of your neighbors, disgusting.

[@SaturnineXTS]

@@L2Xenta True, true. Good thing that most of the world now hates Putin, despite his propaganda efforts.

[@tonytwotoes4456]

Her mom and dad are buried in Ukraine...and now her son is. They left his dead body on the battle field. They will find them in the spring next year when the sunflowers come up.

[@c.erine78]

She needs to contact the Ukrainian government/military whoever is in charge of deceased soldiers for Russia. If he has a body, they will have it.

[@dw816]

This is the reality of war ordinary people suffer, so sad.

[@dianahobbs9359]

Brother against brother...very very sad and senseless war of horror and death

[@bingbong6467]

Well said 👏

[@taterkaze9428]

"500 men from her son's unit are still unaccounted for" - a Battalion Tactical group has 600 to 800 soldiers and officers at full strength. The most likely meaning of "unit" in the context of 500 MIA would be a BTG, meaning her son's BTG was effectively destroyed. I feel bad for this Russian. She didn't cause Putin's war, she doesn't support it and bears no ill will towards Ukrainians, yet she suffers all the same.

[@SCARRIOR]

She's Ukrainian, not Russian, she moved to Russia as a Ukrainian Citizen and gained Russian Citizenship, making her Ukrainian first, Russian second also called a joint citizenship, if you call her by her country origin you must call her by her first designation which is Ukrainian.

[@grahamdrew5512]

@@SCARRIOR so what??? she lost her son FOR Russia not Ukraine but she still deserves an answer...unfortunately Russian soldiers do not recover their dead as a priority like most armies do. The blame sits squarely on Putin.

@@SCARRIOR So fvcking what? He chose to fight for Mordor. And this is your callous response. He is not ruSSian. WTF

[@anitagorse9204]

Hopefully at least some have deserted. There was intense fighting in Kharkiv on March 16-17th, so it's plausible. What a horrible loss of young lives. :(

[@victorhopper6774]

@richard burman i hope none

[@casparillo987]

Mothers of missing soldiers need to band together unless they have already done so..... they then jointly need to press the authorities for answers... they may not get the answers they want, but if they could get some form of closure, that would be better than nothing... a desperately sad situation - and a pointless war :(

[@khiem1939]

In Russia they will get THROWN in PRISON!

[@lyn.267]

very sad to hear her son still young. 😢

[@ronnyrudeboy7461]

Another fruit of putin´s politics, and they always left all bodies behind in coward action. Bless to this mum to trying to have some justice.

[@mortalstorm]

Sadly, in Putin’s dictatorship government there’s rarely any justice for the Russian people.

[@viktorviktorski183]

Its not only putin but russians as well all of them in fact

[@Crosley-1520]

Is a way for Putin to avoid paying any compensation, as "missing" means "not officially dead".

[@imaginemetoo]

So so sad! We are all human and all the same until monsters fill heads with hate and greed! One Tyrant and the world is imploding in hate and chaos! Perversely Some don't know what they are hating or fighting for!!! Turning man against his brother until man exists no more! 😞

[@arealhauntedhouse4171]

I couldn't agree more and said basically something similar.✌🏼🖖🏼👍🏼💔

[@supercalcium]

No one should be suffering

[@cjpb1954]

Mothers united will never be divided - raise your voices to rid Russia of Putin - may your God be with you.

[@polyeder2000]

No worries. He is certainly promoted to status "good".

[@fraterleonatus5864]

I can be kind of sad for him. It was the first days of the war, lots of russian soldiers could have a bad understanding of what was really happening, and about the possibilities they had to leave Ukraine.

[@drefhill]

and he'll get a medal.

[@polyeder2000]

@@drefhill I doubt that. Just look at what happened to the sailors on Moskau. Their families don't even get money because it was declared "an accident" Russia is not only cruel to the world, it is even cruel to its own people.

[@darrylmacdonald6159]

I believe there is also an Ukrainian Hotline she can call that Identifies recovered Russian soldiers?

[@TheCroupier74]

No Sympathy for this mother that would have been so proud of her son had he bought her back a brand new washing machine from Ukraine.

[@cloxurf9603]

Bro it is still a young mother losing a son and a husban think what your mother would feel it this happened to her

[@TheCroupier74]

@@cloxurf9603 she would not have let me go to war in the first place.

[@HowlingWo1f]

Heartbreaking 💔 what a terrible useless war.

[@jennyvanwyk4796]

Im sad for you hope you find him

[@faemike55]

I am sad for all the Mothers and Fathers who have children in this senseless war. Мне грустно за всех Матерей и Отцов, у которых есть дети в этой бессмысленной войне Мені сумно за всіх матерів і батьків, які мають дітей на цій безглуздій війні.

[@Zdraviski]

Don't be sad for the russians. It's not considered as a war in their country, so they can refuse to go. The ones who agree to go want to kill, loot and rape. I am very happy that her son is "missing in ashes".

[@koosbusters8006]

i feel her pain so sad 🥺

[@jamyangsamphel2717]

How ruthless,leaders never worried about dead soldiers in Ukraine,dead bodies everywhere on Ukrainian fields.It's really tough moments for Russian mothers.

[@rulerofroombas1443]

They wouldn’t be sending their sons and husbands to war if they really cared

[@markleigh1405]

What goes around comes around I'm afraid 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@cloxurf9603]

Its a young mother losing her son and husband, show some respect.

[@markleigh1405]

@@cloxurf9603 like I said what goes around comes around, that's what happens when you start an illegal war deal with it

[@zameisie7016]

At least she's not more concerned about the hairdryer her son was supposed to steal from a ukranian home

[@TeddyR_Official]

Thousands of families most probably are in the same situation. Russians should not suffer from this senseless war of their leaders. They can live peacefully without Ukraine, they don’t need it.

[@Elo-hv3fw]

They need their natural resources and their food. Russia is running very short on food. Stalin had exactly the same problem.

[@ourfloridagarden4191]

This mom is correct. This is a pointless war.

[@natalijaoconnell4215]

мама...... 😞 Я молюсь за вас...

[@starlightbarking9495]

Omg what a nightmare

[@aronhayse9895]

the destroyed convoy shes talking about is that convoy that tried to push a week ago they got bunched up with at least 4 tanks and 13 support i think it was a BMP 2 and BMP 3 they were utterly devastated by Ukrainian single artillery battery which was the PZH 2000 they had 100 more casualties than the failed crossing in belohorvika

[@didierbaltes5554]

no pz2000 in ukraine in march 16.....

[@aronhayse9895]

@@didierbaltes5554 ohhh i thought it was july where last week the Russian took their heaviest losses yet

[@joythought]

@@aronhayse9895 they said March 16th

[@jordirex7711]

if he didn't say anything since march 16 he is unfortunately dead. If he had been captured he would have been able to contact the family.

[@milly7205]

Slaughtered for Putin’s ego.

[@anderssvensk4317]

May God comfort her 🙏 What a terrible situation for her and her family.

[@64ELTURCO]

I don't feel one bit of sympathy for the Russian deaths. Those who have taken Ukrainian lives do not deserve any of it. I hope any Russian will learn who their true enemy is. Slava Ukraini.

[@0779risingsun]

If the russian mother is too worry just go to Ukraine and try to find your son. I'm sure the Ukranians will give her a very good welcome as they give it to her son.

[@michaelzoelisch6738]

The ignorance, the russian soldiers dont want to be there, war is never good for any participating side, except for the Leaders of the country who won. If the russian soldiers dont go to war in wich they get drafted, they get 16 years prison time while they are often not older then 23 years. Just think about it and just try to use ur brain for once.

[@64ELTURCO]

@@michaelzoelisch6738 Those innocent poor Russian soldiers. They did nothing wrong, am I right? They've committed war crimes all over Ukraine, the majority of them are contracted as everyone smart has avoided drafts. They are very well aware of what they are doing. Killing, raping, looting, destroying.

[@avat0r826]

Glory to heroes

[@YesItsReallyKeith]

as bad as it is, just remember that many young men were lied to and sent to a place with no training and not knowing they will encounter resistance !!! This is one man's war of greed !!!

[@johnvandongen1888]

please have mercy

[@Tostotoktedasij]

She can buy the new Lada

Lol 😅

[@123garyg]

All mothers, wives, sisters, children should blame putin

[@Kim-J312]

Am I supposed to feel sorry for her ?? Nope

[@cloxurf9603]

Yes you are you cant prove otherwise

[@pocketfella5176]

God be with you

[@procprotoc]

Free Lada, be happy.

[@Princip666]

Let's not talk about the tens of thousands families in Ukraine having the same problem, let's just show the one in Russia.

[@als1023]

Exactly,,, not the faintest whit of concern for Ukrainian people, it's land and buildings. These are crude, simple people with little to no compassion for anything but themselves. How can a world negotiate and live with this sub-human population ? Something as simple as the ruzzianmilitary has no time nor resources to find anything about individuals that Ukraine does not send back as bodies. It's going to take generations to cleanse the minds of these fascists. Slava Ukraine !!

[@nicolas2419]

I knew a bit (just a bit) what feI had a friend in Kharkiv. I've no news of her for more three months now. Her last messages were "It's horrible", "I got used to hear bombardment" and "I don't know if I'll be still alive tomorrow". Today, I don't know if she is still alive or not. Another Russian-Ukrainian friend who is in Russia now has three cousins who are fighting in this war, but one in the Russian side, two in the Ukrainian side. My family knew that in the first part of the 20th century. I'm from Alsace, in eastern France and following the events, members of my family were drafted in German or French armies.

[@susanwestern6434]

It is so sad that families split in different countries at war. In my case German and Dutch during WWII.

[@paolo108]

am sorry for your pain.. your son ..

[@richardglady3009]

Very sad story. I’m sorry.

[@profefabianaaguero8464]

Muy triste.

[@fepeerreview3150]

When the Russian people stop voting repeatedly to make Putin their leader I'll take notice. When they rise up in protest, en masse, I'll start to take them seriously. When they overthrow Putin, withdraw their army from all of Ukraine and pay for the hundreds of billions of dollars in destruction they have wrought on Ukraine, I'll start to respect them.

[@anthonymulvey4162]

I hope you find some peace.

[@kimberleypex]

Awful all the mothers 🇷🇺🇺🇦. So sad. I hope her son is alright 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼