Ukrainian Mother’s Long-Awaited Call Highlights Family Splits in Occupied Regions

Liliia Prutian, a 55-year-old former military medic, spent two and a half years in Russian captivity after the invasion began in February 2022. Following her release, she has been living in a rehabilitation center on the outskirts of Kyiv, attending medical appointments, therapy sessions, and various restorative activities. Her primary focus, however, is re-establishing contact with her youngest son, Dima Zahrebaiev, now 20, who has remained in the family’s village under Russian occupation since the war’s outset. After months of waiting, Prutian finally received a phone call on a Sunday evening and spoke briefly with Dima, expressing both relief and uncertainty about his situation.

New York Times

The conflict left roughly 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory under Russian control. While millions of residents fled those areas, a comparable number stayed, either unwilling or unable to leave. Families like Prutian’s have been divided, with members either displaced, detained, or living under occupation. This separation has become a persistent source of anguish for those in the occupied zones and for the broader Ukrainian population.

New York Times

• Territorial control: Approximately one-fifth of Ukraine remains occupied.

New York Times

• Population movement: Millions have fled the occupied regions; a similarly large number remain.

New York Times

• Detentions: Numerous civilians, including former service members, have been captured and held for extended periods, as illustrated by Prutian’s 2.5-year imprisonment.

New York Times

The enduring split of families in occupied areas is cited as a key factor behind Ukraine’s reluctance to cede territory in prospective peace talks. The personal hardships experienced by individuals such as Prutian underscore the human dimension of the conflict, influencing both domestic sentiment and diplomatic calculations.

New York Times