Thousands of families still do not know the fate of their loved ones. They wait and have the right to know the truth.

On Sunday, July 20, a rally took place on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv to support Ukrainian prisoners of war. Relatives of defenders, activists, military personnel, and concerned citizens participated in the event.

The rally began at 5:00 PM on the stretch between Volodymyrska and Yevhen Chykalenka Streets. Participants held portraits of the missing and captured soldiers, banners demanding action for their release, and appeals to the international community.

Organizers emphasized: silence kills. Society must not forget those who fight for their lives in captivity every day, as well as the defenders whose fates remain unknown.

During the rally, there were calls to the Ukrainian government and international organizations to expedite the exchange process, establish the whereabouts of the missing, investigate cases of violence, and pressure Russia for violations of international humanitarian law.

It is worth noting that earlier in Russia, a court sentenced two Ukrainian servicemen—Ruslan Orlov and Artem Novikov—to lengthy prison terms: 26 and 24 years respectively. The Russian side claims that both allegedly served in the “Azov” brigade and committed “crimes against civilians” in Mariupol in April 2022. According to the investigation, the soldiers fired at local residents with pro-Russian positions.

The Ukrainian side has repeatedly emphasized the illegality of the so-called “trials” of prisoners and the systemic violations of international humanitarian law by Russia.