“Buried,” but he returned from captivity: the family of a soldier from Lviv region will not have to pay millions
12 February 12:17
The family of soldier Nazar Daletsky, who returned from captivity after being presumed dead for three years, will not have to return the payments they received from the state.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing a statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Position of the Ministry of Defense
The ministry emphasized that protecting the rights of defenders and their loved ones is an unconditional priority.
The ministry assured that it does not intend to force the family to return the funds, as all payments were made in accordance with the law on the basis of documents that were official at the time.
“The return of a defender who was previously considered dead is an extremely important event for his loved ones and for the entire country. Additional trauma to a family that has already gone through extremely difficult circumstances is unacceptable,” the Ministry of Defense said.
Legal nuances
The ministry acknowledges that the situation is unique and involves a legal conflict that requires “the most delicate and balanced approach.“
Experts are currently investigating the circumstances under which the soldier’s death was previously established.
“As of today, the Ministry of Defense has no legal grounds to review the decision or compel the family to return the funds received,” the ministry emphasized.
Return after “burial”
As a reminder, Nazar Daletsky returned from Russian captivity on February 5, 2026. Since September 2022, he had been considered dead, and in 2023, his family even held a funeral after his body was allegedly identified by DNA testing.
After the soldier’s return home, speculation arose in the media about a possible demand by the state to return the death benefits.
On February 5, Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners, with 157 Ukrainians returning home—150 military personnel and seven civilians.
Among those released were wounded soldiers, defenders of Mariupol, and illegally convicted Ukrainian citizens. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022.
