Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Russia Invades Ukraine

The Nightmare: Parents Mourn Their Children Amid War In Ukraine

Heartbreaking images capture some of the countless tragedies of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as mothers and fathers grieve over their slain sons and daughters.

This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.
A man holds the hand of his 13-year-old son shortly after the boy was killed in a missile strike on Saltivka, Kharkiv, on July 20. The district of the eastern Ukrainian city has been heavily bombarded since the opening of the Russian invasion and is now largely deserted. 
1 A man holds the hand of his 13-year-old son shortly after the boy was killed in a missile strike on Saltivka, Kharkiv, on July 20. The district of the eastern Ukrainian city has been heavily bombarded since the opening of the Russian invasion and is now largely deserted. 
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal
A man holds the hand of his 13-year-old son shortly after the boy was killed in a missile strike on Saltivka, Kharkiv, on July 20. The district of the eastern Ukrainian city has been heavily bombarded since the opening of the Russian invasion and is now largely deserted. 
A man rushes to the body of his son who was killed in a reported cluster-bomb attack on Lysychansk, eastern Ukraine, on June 18. 
2 A man rushes to the body of his son who was killed in a reported cluster-bomb attack on Lysychansk, eastern Ukraine, on June 18. 
The father and son of Russian Army Sergeant Daniil Dumenko, who was killed during fighting in Ukraine, mourn at his funeral in Volzhsky, near Volgograd, Russia, on May 26. 
3 The father and son of Russian Army Sergeant Daniil Dumenko, who was killed during fighting in Ukraine, mourn at his funeral in Volzhsky, near Volgograd, Russia, on May 26. 
Oksana Kolesnikova embraces the coffin of her son, Anatoliy Kolesnikov, in Irpin, a town near Kyiv, on April 15. Thirty-year-old Anatoliy was a territorial defense soldier killed during the opening phase of the invasion of Ukraine. 
4 Oksana Kolesnikova embraces the coffin of her son, Anatoliy Kolesnikov, in Irpin, a town near Kyiv, on April 15. Thirty-year-old Anatoliy was a territorial defense soldier killed during the opening phase of the invasion of Ukraine. 
Nadia Trubchaninova, 70, grieves at the coffin of her son, Vadym, in Bucha, near Kyiv, on April 12. Vadym was reportedly killed by Russian soldiers on March 30. 
5 Nadia Trubchaninova, 70, grieves at the coffin of her son, Vadym, in Bucha, near Kyiv, on April 12. Vadym was reportedly killed by Russian soldiers on March 30. 
Iryna Tromsa throws soil into the grave of her son, Bohdan, 24, in Bucha on April 23. Bohdan was a Ukrainian paratrooper killed fighting Russian troops in the northeast of his country. 
6 Iryna Tromsa throws soil into the grave of her son, Bohdan, 24, in Bucha on April 23. Bohdan was a Ukrainian paratrooper killed fighting Russian troops in the northeast of his country. 
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.
Artem Dmitriyev says farewell to his daughter Liza, a 4-year-old killed by a Russian missile strike on Vinnytsya on July 17. Liza was among 23 people killed in the attack, including two boys age 7 and 8. Liza's mother, Iryna Dmytriyeva, was among the scores injured.
7 Artem Dmitriyev says farewell to his daughter Liza, a 4-year-old killed by a Russian missile strike on Vinnytsya on July 17. Liza was among 23 people killed in the attack, including two boys age 7 and 8. Liza's mother, Iryna Dmytriyeva, was among the scores injured.
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal
Artem Dmitriyev says farewell to his daughter Liza, a 4-year-old killed by a Russian missile strike on Vinnytsya on July 17. Liza was among 23 people killed in the attack, including two boys age 7 and 8. Liza's mother, Iryna Dmytriyeva, was among the scores injured.
Natalia Pohoreltseva at the funeral for her son, Andriy Melnyk, in Lviv on May 14. Twenty-three-year old Andriy was a Ukrainian soldier killed fighting in the eastern Kharkiv region.
8 Natalia Pohoreltseva at the funeral for her son, Andriy Melnyk, in Lviv on May 14. Twenty-three-year old Andriy was a Ukrainian soldier killed fighting in the eastern Kharkiv region.
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.
The mother (in wheelchair) of Mikhail Kishchik looks at her son's body during his funeral in an area of Ukraine's Luhansk region held by Kremlin-backed separatists. Kishchik was described as a lieutenant colonel within the separatist militia.  
9 The mother (in wheelchair) of Mikhail Kishchik looks at her son's body during his funeral in an area of Ukraine's Luhansk region held by Kremlin-backed separatists. Kishchik was described as a lieutenant colonel within the separatist militia.

 
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal
The mother (in wheelchair) of Mikhail Kishchik looks at her son's body during his funeral in an area of Ukraine's Luhansk region held by Kremlin-backed separatists. Kishchik was described as a lieutenant colonel within the separatist militia.

 
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.
Nina Shevchenko mourns next to the body of her 15-year-old son, Artyem Shevchenko, who was killed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv on April 15. 
10 Nina Shevchenko mourns next to the body of her 15-year-old son, Artyem Shevchenko, who was killed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv on April 15. 
This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal
Nina Shevchenko mourns next to the body of her 15-year-old son, Artyem Shevchenko, who was killed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv on April 15. 
Valentyna Nechyporenko, 77, weeps at the grave of her son, Ruslan, during his funeral in Bucha on April 18.
11 Valentyna Nechyporenko, 77, weeps at the grave of her son, Ruslan, during his funeral in Bucha on April 18.
The mother of slain Ukrainian Senior Lieutenant Pavlo Chernikov is pictured as soldiers sing the Ukrainian national anthem at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv on March 28. 
12 The mother of slain Ukrainian Senior Lieutenant Pavlo Chernikov is pictured as soldiers sing the Ukrainian national anthem at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv on March 28. 
A man cries over the the body of his teenage son, Iliya, at a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward in Mariupol on March 2.
13 A man cries over the the body of his teenage son, Iliya, at a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward in Mariupol on March 2.
16x9 Image

RFE/RL

RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

Back to top
XS
SM
MD
LG