I took you with me to our weekly Sunday rally for Ukrainian defenders in Russian captivity on August 23, 2026, Ukraine's Flag Day and the eve of Independence Day. You meet friends I have filmed for years, including Serhii, whose son Yaroslav is still held, and Natalie Krebsova, whose son is also still in captivity.
I talk about Anastasia Savova, whose father died after coming home from captivity, and about the 103 defenders released in the latest exchange.
I also answer a former paid subscriber who canceled for lack of 'humanizing coverage'. I have covered these rallies since November 2022 on Maidan, and I am currently translating a four-hour studio interview with one defender, funded by subscribers at $300 a month.
Chapters
0:00 Arriving at the Sunday rally on Flag Day
2:02 Flags out before Independence Day
3:37 Serhii and the wait for Yaroslav
4:42 Captivity kills: Anastasia Savova's father
8:45 A canceled subscription and humanizing coverage
15:55 Running a newsroom on reader funding
18:18 Covering these rallies since November 2022
21:30 Translating a four-hour defender interview
25:01 Four years of waiting
Watch on YouTube: Kyiv Defender Rally on Flag Day: Families of Ukrainian POWs Still Waiting, Aug 23, 2026
