The organizers urge all residents of Kyiv to participate in the event so that the voices of families and concerned citizens can be heard louder.

On Sunday, June 8, a solidarity event for Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia will take place in Sofia Square, Kyiv. The event will commence at 5:00 PM and will be part of the nationwide initiative «Don’t Stay Silent! Captivity Kills», which occurs weekly in various cities across Ukraine.

The organizers emphasize that silence is deadly. Society cannot afford to forget those who fight for their lives in captivity every day, as well as those whose fates remain unknown.

Participants of the event call on the Ukrainian authorities and the international community to take more active steps towards the release of prisoners of war, investigating cases of disappearances, and pressuring Russia for violations of international humanitarian law.

According to human rights activists, the conditions for Ukrainian captives remain horrific: they are tortured, humiliated, and denied medical assistance. Some do not survive the torment and die.

The purpose of the event is not only to support the families of the captives but also to remind society that the fight for every defender continues.

At the press center «Kyiv Inform» «Evening Kyiv» spoke with the co-founder of the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders, Olga Adrіanova. She shared how a strong community of families of captives has formed around their shared tragedy—people who support each other and do not allow society to turn away from this painful issue.