Thousands of people gathered for a rally in Kyiv, demanding that the Ukrainian government take action to free prisoners of war and intensify efforts to locate the missing.
The event began with a moment of silence, after which the Honor Guard Orchestra of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky performed the national anthem of Ukraine.
"We came here so that we are not forgotten, so that our plight is acknowledged, so that when they return, they see that they have not been forgotten," said Yulia, the wife of a missing soldier.
In Ukraine, protests regularly occur demanding answers about the whereabouts of loved ones who are missing.
The protesters express their dissatisfaction with what they claim is the government's poor communication and its failure to disclose the fate of relatives who went missing during the struggle against Russia's full-scale invasion.
"There is silence all around, silence. My brothers, no one is saying anything, just like the command remains silent," complained Tatiana, the wife of another missing soldier.
Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging prisoners of war since the first days of the war. The latest exchange took place on January 15, 2025, involving 25 individuals on each side.
Ukraine has not disclosed the number of prisoners of war currently held by Russia, but it is believed to exceed 8,000.
In April, Kyiv announced that, according to its estimates, the total number of missing Ukrainians—both combatants and civilians—amounts to nearly 37,000, although officials stated that it is difficult to calculate the exact number, and the figure could be much higher.
Strike on Kyiv
Meanwhile, at least three people died as a result of Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv early Saturday morning.
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia launched 39 "Shahed" drones at the capital, along with other drones and four ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down two missiles and 24 drones. Another 14 were lost, the report stated.
The statement from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine noted that among the injured were a security guard from a dining establishment and individuals who were in a minibus on the street.
Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported that windows were shattered in the Shevchenkivskyi district, and smoke was observed in the entrance of a residential building. Additionally, the water supply was damaged.
The "Lukyanivska" metro station was closed after the glass entrance was damaged during the shelling but was later reopened.