Ukrainian Soldier Returns After Family Funeral

Level 3 Lesson by: Aron Thode Source: bbc.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Illustration of an older woman seated at a kitchen table, holding a phone to her ear with a gentle smile; behind her are simple cabinets and a stove with a kettle, and on the table are a slice of cake on plastic wrap and a glass of tea.
A happy phone call.

Nazar Daletskyi's family in western Ukraine believed he had died in the war. In 2023, they buried a body identified as his in their village cemetery. For many months, they lived with grief and no new answers.

This week, everything changed. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia. He sounded weak and very tired, but he was alive. His mother, Nataliya, could hardly believe his voice after almost four years.

When the war began in 2022, Nazar returned to the front right away. He had fought before, in 2014, so he had experience. In May 2022, he went missing. Later, the family got a strange call from a Russian-speaking man who said Nazar was captured, but safe.

A year later, officials used DNA to identify a badly burned body from a bus. The data matched missing soldier records, and the family held a funeral. Then, last September, a released soldier said he had seen Nazar in prison. The family hoped, but they were still not sure.

Now Nazar is back on Ukrainian soil, and his village is preparing for his return home. His family removed funeral posts online and his photo from a local wall of fallen heroes. Officials are now investigating how the DNA result was wrong. For relatives of thousands of missing people, his story brings hope.

Vocab List

  • Swap (n.) — An exchange of people or things.
  • Capture (v.) — To take a person by force.
  • Release (v.) — To let someone go free.
  • Identify (v.) — To find out who someone is.
  • Burned (adj.) — Damaged by fire.
  • Funeral (n.) — A ceremony for someone who has died.
  • Village (n.) — A small town in the countryside.
  • Official (n.) — A person with authority in an organization or government.
  • Missing (adj.) — Not found and not known to be safe.

Speaker: British Male  Duration: 1:46

YouTube link

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

Nazar Daletskyi's family in western Ukraine believed he had died in the war. In 2023, they (1) __________ a body identified as his in their village cemetery. For many months, they lived with grief and no new answers. This week, everything changed. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia. He sounded weak and very tired, but he was (2) __________. His mother, Nataliya, could hardly believe his voice after almost four years. When the war began in 2022, Nazar returned to the front right away. He had fought before, in 2014, so he had experience. In May 2022, he went (3) __________. Later, the family got a strange call from a Russian-speaking man who said Nazar was captured, but safe. A year later, officials used DNA to identify a badly burned body from a bus. The data matched missing soldier records, and the family held a (4) __________. Then, last September, a released soldier said he had seen Nazar in prison. The family hoped, but they were still not sure. Now Nazar is back on Ukrainian soil, and his village is preparing for his return home. His family removed funeral posts online and his photo from a local wall of fallen heroes. Officials are now (5) __________ how the DNA result was wrong. For relatives of thousands of missing people, his story brings (6) __________.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Nazar's family buried a body identified as his in 2023.
    The story says the family buried a body identified as Nazar's in 2023.
  • The family got clear official news about Nazar soon after he went missing.
    The story says they had no official news for a long time.
  • A released soldier told the family in September that he had seen Nazar in prison.
    The story says a released soldier called in September and said he had seen Nazar in prison.
  • After Nazar called, his family kept funeral posts online to welcome him home.
    The story says they removed funeral material online so it would not upset him.

True or False

1. Nazar's family buried a body identified as his in 2023. T / F

2. The family got clear official news about Nazar soon after he went missing. T / F

3. A released soldier told the family in September that he had seen Nazar in prison. T / F

4. After Nazar called, his family kept funeral posts online to welcome him home. T / F

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • ___ Nazar's family buried a body identified as his.
  • ___
  • ___
  • ___
  • ___ A released soldier said he saw Nazar in prison.
  • ___
  • ___ In May 2022, Nazar went missing.
  • ___
  • ___ Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap.

Multiple Choice

1. What changed everything for Nazar's family this week?

   A) Officials sent them a new DNA test

   B) Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap

   C) The village held another funeral

   D) A newspaper published his story

2. Where did officials say the identified body came from?

   A) From a village cemetery

   B) From a military hospital

   C) From a train station

   D) From a badly burned bus

3. After a released soldier said Nazar was alive, why was the family still unsure?

   A) They had not spoken to Nazar or seen him

   B) They did not remember who Nazar was

   C) They did not know about the war

   D) They had already moved away

4. What are officials investigating now?

   A) Why Nazar returned to the front in 2022

   B) Why the family removed social media posts

   C) How the DNA result was wrong

   D) How many calls families receive each week

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Bury

2. Call

3. Use

4. Hold

5. Live

6. Bring

a) hope

b) with grief

c) a funeral

d) DNA

e) his mother

f) a body

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. The family buried a body identified as Nazar's in 2023. ________ this week, they heard his voice and learned he was alive.

    But, / So, / For example, / Also,

  2. The family had no official news for a long time. They were shocked ________ they had already held a funeral.

    and / but / because / so

  3. Nazar returned home after years of uncertainty. ________ families of missing people may feel some hope after this story.

    Because of that, / Also, / For example, / But,

Discussion Questions

  1. What part of this family's story surprised you most? Why?
  2. How do you think Nataliya felt when she heard Nazar's voice?
  3. In what ways does war hurt people’s lives, even far from the fighting?
  4. If a family member disappeared, what would be hardest for you?
  5. Is “not knowing” sometimes worse than bad news? Why?
  6. What can friends say or do to support someone who is grieving?
  7. How much do you trust DNA tests? Why?
  8. What do you think life is like as a prisoner of war?
  9. Have you been separated from someone that you love? For how long?
  10. When Nataliya's family were reunified, how do you think they celebrated?

Answers

Listening: (1) buried, (2) alive, (3) missing, (4) funeral, (5) investigating, (6) hope

True or False:

  1. True. The story says the family buried a body identified as Nazar's in 2023.
  2. False. The story says they had no official news for a long time.
  3. True. The story says a released soldier called in September and said he had seen Nazar in prison.
  4. False. The story says they removed funeral material online so it would not upset him.

Multiple Choice: B, D, A, C

Put Events in Order:

  1. When the war began, Nazar went to the front right away.
  2. In May 2022, Nazar went missing.
  3. Nazar's family buried a body identified as his.
  4. A released soldier said he saw Nazar in prison.
  5. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap.

Vocabulary:

  1. Bury: a body
  2. Call: his mother
  3. Use: DNA
  1. Hold: a funeral
  2. Live: with grief
  3. Bring: hope

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Contrast. 2) Reason. 3) Result.

  1. But,
  2. because
  3. Because of that,

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