What does a woman feel while waiting for her husband, brother, or son to return from captivity? Or for at least some news, because he is missing. Each woman lives through this pain in her own way, and mostly alone. Still, ambiguous loss remains a scarcely discussed trauma in the public discourse of war and its consequences.
As of June 2025, more than 70,000 Ukrainians are considered missing, and nearly 8,000 are officially held in captivity. This was reported by Artur Dobroserdov, the Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances, in an interview with Ukrinform.
Their families have lived in a state of uncertainty, between hope and despair, for years.
These experiences became the foundation of our new video project with Luminance Production — “Ambiguous Loss Is a Trauma”, implemented with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine — a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden.
The video will be available in languages, Ukrainian and English, to draw international attention to the experiences of Ukrainian women living in limbo.
At the heart of the story is the inner state of the heroines: from apathy and dim hope to anger, emotional breakdown, and back to silence. An abstract room. Sunlight on the wall. A phone on the table. The world outside keeps moving, while her inner time seems frozen in waiting.
The creative team uses the artistic approach “one situation — different heroines” to show that ambiguous loss is a trauma shared across generations — mothers, sisters, daughters — united by the same experience.
Light and sound in the room resonate with the fragile emotional landscape of the heroines: from bright flashes to nearly faded flickering, from whispers to sharp high tones.
“What our heroines experience on screen is a collective image based on dozens of real stories of women who are waiting for news about their loved ones missing due to the war. Metaphorical storytelling helps ensure the video does not retraumatize women living through this experience, and prevents a Western audience from feeling fatigued or perceiving it as ‘just another video about a distant war,’” says director Denys Stehnii.
It’s noticeable, the ending does not offer quick answers, but emphasizes the value of a human life above all. “I am worthy of support and care.” This is the key message meant to inspire women to seek help through the project.
“This video is about support. We want more women to learn about GIDNA and reach out for help — to feel that they are not alone, and that there is a place where their feelings matter,” adds project producer Antonina Sotnyk.
This is the second collaboration between Future for Ukraine and Luminance Production, following “The Manifesto of the Strong” — a video storytelling of people living after amputation. We are grateful to our partners for their professionalism and for the opportunity to show social issues through a film. Follow the FFU updates, and we will announce the video release on our website and social media platforms.
The material is produced by CF «Future for Ukraine» with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden.
The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CF «Future for Ukraine» and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR Ednannia.
