Ukrainian Relatives Gather in Istanbul Over Missing Loved Ones

Approximately 200 family members of Ukrainians missing during the war with Russia assembled in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district on Saturday. Their aim was to press for information on the fate of their relatives—or, where confirmed dead, for the return of their remains.

Ukrainian Families Speak Out Amid Independence Anniversary

The demonstrators, predominantly women, convened near Ukrainian national flags in Beyoğlu—a symbolic location as Ukraine prepares to mark the 34th anniversary of its independence on 24 August. Among them was Tatiana Tantsiura, who traveled from Cherkasy on the western bank of the Dnipro River. She appealed for “international support” to determine the status of her husband, stating: “My husband has been missing for three years. He served in the 105th Brigade,” according to AFP.

Tantsiura added: “I have received no information about my husband for three years and one month. … Perhaps I will search for him for the rest of my life. … Russia does not allow the International Committee of the Red Cross access to locations where Ukrainian prisoners of war are held.” She noted that most women present shared similar circumstances—prolonged silence and absence of verified news regarding their missing loved ones.

“We need international support, support from Turkey … This is not Ukraine’s war alone—it is the world’s war. We are defending freedom,” she said.

Students and Activists Join the Appeal

Alona, a 22-year-old student enrolled in Istanbul, participated to seek answers about her father, officially declared “missing in action” in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine on 6 December 2024. “My father always supported me … Now I am here to support him—and to find him. I miss him deeply. I truly feel envious when I see Turkish girls speaking with their fathers. It is extremely painful,” she said, according to the source text.

Aliya Usinova, originally from Crimea and based in Turkey where she leads a cultural association, emphasized the broader humanitarian dimension: “We want to draw attention to the human tragedy unfolding in Ukraine.” She stressed: “No person can remain officially missing for five years. He is either a prisoner or deceased. In either case, his family has the right to know what happened to him.”

Turkey’s Dual Diplomatic Role

Turkey, which borders the Black Sea to the north, has consistently voiced strong support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty—while simultaneously maintaining economic ties with Moscow. Ankara has hosted multiple rounds of negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian representatives, specifically aimed at facilitating prisoner and remains exchanges.