Vitaliy Hyrenko Returns Home After Prolonged Captivity

The border guard Vitaliy Hyrenko has finally returned to his hometown of Izmail – the last among his comrades who defended Snake Island and endured Russian captivity since the onset of the full-scale invasion. This was reported by the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Vitaliy spent over three and a half years in captivity, and today his greatest dream came true – he held his son Dmytryk for the first time. When he was captured, his wife Aliona was seven months pregnant, so he was only able to see his child now. Throughout all these years, his loved ones – his wife, little son, and mother Vera, who relocated to Izmail after losing their home in Kharkiv region – have been waiting for him. Comrades, friends, and residents of Izmail warmly welcomed Vitaliy with hugs, tears of joy, and heartfelt words of gratitude.