Families of Ukrainians taken prisoner by Russia desperate for news: ‘Please do not forget them’

The loved ones of some of the thousands of people held incommunicado in Russian-occupied territory or Russia itself, speak to Bel Trew in Kyiv about their fears as the invasion enters its third year

Every week Karina checks the latest lists of dead Ukrainian servicemen to see if her brother, a prisoner of war, is included in it.

Her family last spoke to Sasha, a soldier, 31,  two years ago when he was stationed at Azovstal steel plant, the site of the final Ukrainian stand against the Kremlin’s  ferocious bombardment of Mariupol, which is now occupied by Russia. The frantic phone call occurred in the desperate closing of the battle. His mother Svetlana, 56 , in tears, says: “He essentially told us I love you and goodbye”.