A Ukrainian mayor and a journalist, held as prisoners in Russia for over three years, both spoke to their mothers as soon as they crossed into Ukraine.
Sunday August 24, 2025, was the 34th anniversary of the Ukrainian Day of Independence. For two citizens of Ukraine, it was their personal independence day. Dmytro Khilyuk is a journalist. Volodymyr Mykolayenko was the mayor of Kherson.
Both had been held in Russian captivity for over three years. They appeared to have aged ten times that long.
Eight Ukrainian civilians were released from Russian captivity on August 24, 2025. Journalist Dmytro Khyliuk is pictured second from the right, with the former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko fourth from the right.
Kherson’s mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko — before (2021) and after Russian imprisonment.
Prison
News media reported Khilyuk, who was held incommunicado by Russia was released as part of the latest prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kyiv.
Khilyuk and Mykolayenko, were two of the thousands of Ukrainian civilians detained in Russia, something illegal under international law. Some 37,000 Ukrainians, including civilians, children and members of the military, are officially recognized as missing. They include activists, priests, politicians and community leaders as well as people who appear to have been snatched by Russian troops at random at checkpoints and other places in occupied Ukraine.
Mothers
Khilyuk called his mother just moments after crossing into Ukraine. “I knew you cared about me and worried about me. Mum, don’t cry. I’ll be home soon.”
Khilyuk and his father Vasyl were detained by Russian troops while attempting to get basic supplies during the occupation of their village, Kozarovychi, north of Kyiv. While Vasyl Khyliuk was released a few days later, Dmytro disappeared without a trace.
The former Kherson mayor, Volodymyr Mykolayenko, spent more than three years in Russian captivity, having refused to be exchanged in 2022, insisting that a critically ill fellow prisoner be released first.
Mykolayenko said that he has “seen nothing but bars and concrete in recent years.”
He described his release as his “second birthday” and said: “It is a wonderful coincidence that my mother’s birthday is tomorrow. Mum, I love you very much. She is 91 years old … I did not know if I would find her alive and well.”
Life Stories
This is another in s series of stories of war time Ukrainians. Read about Vika here / Roma here / Sergei here.
We’re sharing these life stories with our readers as a way to chronicle the experiences of Ukrainians.
One day this war will be over. There will be peace and independence for Ukraine. And justice needs to be done on behalf of Ukrainians.
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