Captivity and indifference are deadly - a support rally in the heart of Odesa.

Journalists from Novini.LIVE report from the scene.

"My brother is missing, and I don’t know if he is alive"

Among the participants in the action is Victoria, who holds a poster featuring a photo of a soldier. The young woman shares that her personal pain is tied to the disappearance of her brother. He served in the 14th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Chervona Kalyna". Since October 13, 2023, she has had no news of him or the 14 other soldiers who went on a combat mission with him.

"I am here for my brother, for his brigade, and for all those who are missing or held captive. He disappeared in the Zaporizhzhia direction in October 2023. Since then, there has been no news. I don’t know if he is alive, but I cannot remain silent. These actions are our way of reminding the world that our heroes are still waiting for freedom,” says Victoria.

The young woman also shared her perspective on the importance of such events. She urged society not to forget those who risk their lives every day for our future.

"Such actions are extremely important. They remind our society that not all warriors are home, and many relatives don’t even know if their loved ones are alive or in captivity. Our citizens need to understand that unless they become the voice of the captives and the missing, this story will remain just a family issue. Indifference kills, captivity kills, and uncertainty kills,” added the hero's sister.

"Every repost is a chance for our guys"

Kateryna, the organizer of the event, also emphasized the significance of such initiatives like rallies in support of prisoners of war.

"The aim of our actions is to draw society’s attention to the issue of captives and the missing. The war is still ongoing, and our defenders, who protected Mariupol, have been in captivity for three years now. Exchanges are very difficult, but every repost, every participation in the action helps bring them closer to returning home. We must support not only our heroes but also the front, as that is what enables Ukraine to negotiate exchanges,” said the young woman.

The action served as a reminder that every citizen can contribute to the fight for the freedom of the captives. Organizers urged people not to remain indifferent, as the voice of society has the power to change the fate of individuals.

Let us remind you that a defender from Zmiinyi attempted to find love after being freed from captivity. We also reported that 75-year-old Volodymyr and Tamara are waiting for the return from captivity of their grandson Bohdan from the Russian Federation.