In an extraordinary narrative of survival that defies the bleak statistics of war, a Ukrainian soldier believed to have been killed in action has “returned from the dead” to the astonishment of his family and local community. For nearly two years, the family of Nazar Dalytskyi mourned his passing, having interred remains they believed were his in a village cemetery in Western Ukraine. This week, however, the unthinkable occurred: the “deceased” soldier placed a phone call to his mother.
Table of Contents
A Journey Through the Shadow of Death
Nazar Dalytskyi, a 42-year-old veteran who first served during the 2014 Donbas conflict, reenlisted immediately following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. By May of that year, he had vanished during the ferocious combat on the front lines. For months, his mother, Natalia, languished in painful uncertainty, receiving only a cryptic call from a Russian-speaking stranger claiming Nazar had been captured.
The turning point came a year later when officials informed Natalia that a DNA match had been identified in a morgue in South-eastern Ukraine. Forensic teams had recovered several severely charred remains from a burnt-out bus. Based on the DNA samples provided by Natalia, one of the bodies was formally identified as Nazar.
Timeline of a Miraculous Resurrection
| Period | Event | Official Status |
| Feb 2022 | Nazar reenlists following the invasion. | Active Duty |
| May 2022 | Nazar reported missing in action (MIA). | Disappeared |
| Early 2023 | DNA “match” confirmed from charred remains. | Presumed Dead |
| Mid 2023 | Family holds a full military funeral and interment. | Deceased |
| Sept 2025 | Released POW claims Nazar is alive in a Russian jail. | Uncertain |
| Feb 2026 | Nazar returns to Ukraine via prisoner exchange. | Alive |
The Call That Changed Everything
After 3 years and 9 months of absence, Nazar finally stepped back onto Ukrainian soil as part of a recent prisoner-of-war (POW) swap. The moment he contacted home was captured in a video that has touched hearts across the globe. Natalia, still reeling from the shock, asked the questions only a mother would: “Are your arms and legs still there? My golden boy, I have waited so long for you.”
“It was so surreal,” Natalia told the BBC. “I was at his funeral. I stood by his grave. And yet, I was hearing his voice. The joy was so intense I could not stop the tears.”
Correcting the Record
The family is now faced with the bizarre task of “undoing” a death. They are currently scrubbing social media of funeral tributes and have requested the removal of Nazar’s portrait from the village’s “Gallery of Fallen Heroes.” Meanwhile, an official investigation has been launched to determine how the DNA identification process failed so tragically.
A Beacon of Hope for the Missing
Nazar’s return offers a rare glimmer of hope to the families of the approximately 70,000 Ukrainians currently listed as missing. While many have undoubtedly perished, Nazar’s story suggests that amidst the chaos of war, bureaucratic errors and hidden survival remain possible. As Natalia prepares her son’s favourite meals, his cousin Roksolana shared a final sentiment: “I want every mother to receive a phone call like ours.”