A Mother’s Story of Perseverance: In Volyn, the Ukrainian Red Cross Tracing Service Reunites Families of the Missing Through Theatre

At the initiative of the Ukrainian Red Cross and with the support of the Volyn Regional Drama Theatre management, tickets were arranged for a pre-premiere performance of the play “In Search of Athena.” Families who had reached out to the Tracing Service in Volyn were able to attend the theatrical production free of charge. The lead role was played by Nataliia, one of the applicants.

The play’s script tells the true story of Nataliia, who waited 29 months for her son Dmytro to be released from captivity. Despite serious illness, she never lost hope and continued her search. The story depicts how she found and rescued Athena, a dog that had served alongside her son, from the occupied city of Mariupol. Later, her son, a military medic, was also freed from captivity.

The event aimed to support those awaiting news of the fate of their loved ones and their return home. This story of pain and hope in the face of adversity served as a reminder of the difficult journey undertaken by families searching for and waiting for their missing relatives, as well as those returning from captivity. Families noted that the performance gave them a “second wind” in continuing to hope for news of their loved ones. The project was implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.