Several events, organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross to support families of missing persons, have recently taken place in the Odesa region

In the Kyivskyi district of Odesa, a social integration event was held for internally displaced families and those whose loved ones are missing. Participants attended a performance of the operetta “Enchanted Boccaccio” at the Odesa Academic Theatre of Musical Comedy named after M. Vodyanoy. The performance brought participants positive emotions, a cheerful atmosphere, and memorable experiences.

Another group of families attended a performance of the musical “Hutsulka Ksenia” at the same theatre. The romantic comedy, which blends ethnic themes with classical music, resonated strongly with the audience. Sharing impressions after the show gave participants an opportunity to connect and take their minds off heavy thoughts.

Families of missing persons also visited the “New-Vasiuky” ethnopark, where they took part in a guided tour of the park’s open-air spaces and spent time with others who share similar experiences. Moreover, this month, a social hairdressing salon run by the Ukrainian Red Cross opened in Odesa. Families who had contacted the Restoring Family Links team were among the first to benefit from the free services offered.

Volunteers from the Restoring Family Links programme and the Ukrainian Red Cross Tracing Service regularly organise social and psychosocial support activities to improve the emotional well-being of families living in uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones.