Key Highlights:

• History teacher of Baltsky Lyceum No. 3 is finally home after 800 days in captivity;
• Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Lonchak, expressed gratitude to all who helped facilitate the Hero's return;
• Volodymyr Zhilenko will now undergo treatment and rehabilitation.

This important news was shared on Facebook by Oleksandr Lonchak.

He remarked that Volodymyr Zhilenko is “a man who has endured the darkness of war yet retained his dignity, courage, and faith.” He volunteered to go to the front and was captured during the battles for Avdiivka in 2023, suffering a severe injury. Until now, there had been no news about him.

“Two years and two months… 800 days! It’s like tearing dates from a calendar. Endless waiting. It’s living without breathing fully. It’s waking up each morning with one question: “What if today?” “Have we been forgotten?” “Is this suffering never-ending?”

And now – the dream has come true.

Our teacher, our colleague, our hero – is home. With weary eyes, unhealed wounds, yet with incredible inner strength. He has gone through captivity to step once again on his native Ukrainian soil.

To once again teach the children of Podillia about courage, history, and memory. Most importantly, to be an example,” wrote Oleksandr Lonchak.

The official expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made it possible for Volodymyr Zhilenko and other prisoners of war to return to Ukraine, to the Armed Forces, and to all who fight for each of our Heroes.
Now the teacher who has returned home faces treatment and rehabilitation.