World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Ukrainian couple reunite after husband escapes Russian-held Oleshky
Serhiy and Larysa Ryndova reunited in Kyiv after spending 4½ years apart.
Serhiy, 68, had been trapped in Russian-held Oleshky in southern Ukraine, while Larysa, 72, fled to England in 2022 to live with their son.
She left after Russia’s full-scale invasion and the town’s occupation, while Serhiy stayed to look after their home.
Residents faced drone attacks, shortages of power and heating, and food deliveries stopped in the spring.
Serhiy survived on stored aid and food shared by neighbours as supplies ran low and the local hospital ran short of supplies.
He and hundreds of other residents were evacuated on Oct.
30 during a ceasefire, travelling through occupied areas, Russia and Belarus before reaching Ukraine.
Larysa made a 2,000-kilometre journey to meet him, and plans to take him back to Britain to reunite with their family.
Serhiy Ryndova reunited with his wife, Larysa, in Kyiv after escaping the Russian-held town of Oleshky.
The couple had been apart for 4½ years, since Larysa left Ukraine for England in 2022.
Serhiy was evacuated on October 30 with hundreds of other residents during a ceasefire.
Residents of Oleshky faced drone attacks, a lack of power and heating, and food deliveries that stopped in the spring.
Larysa travelled about 2,000 kilometres to meet Serhiy and plans to bring him back to Britain.
- Who
- Serhiy and Larysa Ryndova, a Ukrainian couple.
- What
- They reunited after Serhiy escaped Oleshky, where he had been trapped under Russian occupation.
- When
- Serhiy was evacuated on October 30; they reunited on November 5, according to a photograph caption.
- Where
- They met outside a hospital in Kyiv. Serhiy had been living in Oleshky, in southern Ukraine.
- Why
- Larysa had fled to England in 2022, while Serhiy stayed to look after the family home. He left as part of an evacuation with hundreds of other residents.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Larysa left for England to live with the couple’s son, while Serhiy stayed in Oleshky to look after their home.
Serhiy said the two men who brought food to residents died and deliveries stopped.
Serhiy was evacuated from Oleshky with hundreds of other residents during a ceasefire.
Serhiy and Larysa reunited outside a hospital in Kyiv, according to a photograph caption.
- Husband
- Serhiy Ryndova, 68
- Wife
- Larysa Ryndova, 72
- Time apart
- 4½ years
- Evacuation
- October 30
- Destination
- Kyiv, Ukraine
- Larysa’s journey
- About 2,000 kilometres
3 sources
What people are saying
Oleshky a “zone of death
Sometime around April (this year), the people who used to bring us food died — two men. After that, all food deliveries stopped completely. There was nothing.
Your heart is torn apart at the thought of leaving everything behind. How can you? Your home, your family, the cemetery — all your relatives are there.
I can't believe you are here