Azov fighter Artem Vyshniak, son of prominent POW activist Mama Tania, released from captivity

After four years in captivity, Artem Vyshniak, a fighter of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, was brought back home during the prisoner exchange on 15 May. Ukrainians know his mother, Mama Tania, through her active participation in rallies supporting captured defenders.

Source: activist Anastasiia Yeremieieva

Details: Vyshniak was taken prisoner after leaving the Azovstal plant in Mariupol in 2022. He had joined the Azov Regiment at the age of 19.

"I last saw him on 6 December 2021, heard his voice on 9 May 2022, and received the last message from him on 17 May 2022. He wrote that he was fine but would be out of contact for a long time. He also wrote that he loved us and was proud of his parents," Tetiana told Hromadske Radio.

For four years, Tetiana regularly took part in rallies supporting prisoners of war. Every week she held a placard with a new message. It was there that people began calling her Mama Tania, after which she started using the name on social media.

She also posed in freezing weather wearing only a T-shirt and holding a sign reading "Waiting for my son" to draw attention to the lack of warm clothing for POWs.

Tetiana's husband and brother both joined the defence of Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion. At her house in Kyiv Oblast, she set up a small shelter where she cares for animals.

Background: Earlier, Ukrainian marine Ruslan Kurtmallaiev also returned home after reportedly being handed over to the Russians by his commander along with his brothers-in-arms.

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