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Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
3 / B1
Published
Title
Ukrainian Soldier Returns After Family Funeral
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-02-23-soldier-returns-after-family-funeral/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice

Language: Words That Go Together

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

(1) Talk about some of your family members.

(2) Who are you closest to in your family?

Illustration of an older woman seated at a kitchen table, holding a phone to her ear with a gentle smile; behind her are simple cabinets and a stove with a kettle, and on the table are a slice of cake on plastic wrap and a glass of tea.
A happy phone call.

Vocab List

Swap (n.) — An exchange of people or things.
Funeral (n.) — A ceremony for someone who has died.
Capture (v.) — To take a person by force.
Village (n.) — A small town in the countryside.
Release (v.) — To let someone go free.
Official (n.) — A person with authority in an organization or government.
Identify (v.) — To find out who someone is.
Missing (adj.) — Not found and not known to be safe.
Burned (adj.) — Damaged by fire.
Reading

Nazar Daletskyi's family in western Ukraine believed he had died in the war. In 2023, they buried a body identified as his in their village cemetery. For many months, they lived with grief and no new answers.

This week, everything changed. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia. He sounded weak and very tired, but he was alive. His mother, Nataliya, could hardly believe his voice after almost four years.

When the war began in 2022, Nazar returned to the front right away. He had fought before, in 2014, so he had experience. In May 2022, he went missing. Later, the family got a strange call from a Russian-speaking man who said Nazar was captured, but safe.

A year later, officials used DNA to identify a badly burned body from a bus. The data matched missing soldier records, and the family held a funeral. Then, last September, a released soldier said he had seen Nazar in prison. The family hoped, but they were still not sure.

Now Nazar is back on Ukrainian soil, and his village is preparing for his return home. His family removed funeral posts online and his photo from a local wall of fallen heroes. Officials are now investigating how the DNA result was wrong. For relatives of thousands of missing people, his story brings hope.

Ukrainian Soldier Returns After Family Funeral

Level 3 Article Source: bbc.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Illustration of an older woman seated at a kitchen table, holding a phone to her ear with a gentle smile; behind her are simple cabinets and a stove with a kettle, and on the table are a slice of cake on plastic wrap and a glass of tea.
A happy phone call.

Nazar Daletskyi's family in western Ukraine believed he had died in the war. In 2023, they buried a body identified as his in their village cemetery. For many months, they lived with grief and no new answers.

This week, everything changed. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia. He sounded weak and very tired, but he was alive. His mother, Nataliya, could hardly believe his voice after almost four years.

When the war began in 2022, Nazar returned to the front right away. He had fought before, in 2014, so he had experience. In May 2022, he went missing. Later, the family got a strange call from a Russian-speaking man who said Nazar was captured, but safe.

A year later, officials used DNA to identify a badly burned body from a bus. The data matched missing soldier records, and the family held a funeral. Then, last September, a released soldier said he had seen Nazar in prison. The family hoped, but they were still not sure.

Now Nazar is back on Ukrainian soil, and his village is preparing for his return home. His family removed funeral posts online and his photo from a local wall of fallen heroes. Officials are now investigating how the DNA result was wrong. For relatives of thousands of missing people, his story brings hope.

Speaker: British Male  Duration: 1:46  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Nazar Daletskyi's family in western Ukraine believed he had died in the war. In 2023, they (1) a body identified as his in their village cemetery. For many months, they lived with grief and no new answers.

This week, everything changed. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia. He sounded weak and very tired, but he was (2) . His mother, Nataliya, could hardly believe his voice after almost four years.

When the war began in 2022, Nazar returned to the front right away. He had fought before, in 2014, so he had experience. In May 2022, he went (3) . Later, the family got a strange call from a Russian-speaking man who said Nazar was captured, but safe.

A year later, officials used DNA to identify a badly burned body from a bus. The data matched missing soldier records, and the family held a (4) . Then, last September, a released soldier said he had seen Nazar in prison. The family hoped, but they were still not sure.

Now Nazar is back on Ukrainian soil, and his village is preparing for his return home. His family removed funeral posts online and his photo from a local wall of fallen heroes. Officials are now (5) how the DNA result was wrong. For relatives of thousands of missing people, his story brings (6) .

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. The family buried a body identified as Nazar's in 2023. this week, they heard his voice and learned he was alive.

    But, / So, / For example, / Also,

    The family buried a body identified as Nazar's in 2023. But, this week, they heard his voice and learned he was alive.

  2. The family had no official news for a long time. They were shocked they had already held a funeral.

    and / but / because / so

    The family had no official news for a long time. They were shocked because they had already held a funeral.

  3. Nazar returned home after years of uncertainty. families of missing people may feel some hope after this story.

    Because of that, / Also, / For example, / But,

    Nazar returned home after years of uncertainty. Because of that, families of missing people may feel some hope after this story.

Discussion Questions
  1. What part of this family's story surprised you most? Why?
  2. How do you think Nataliya felt when she heard Nazar's voice?
  3. In what ways does war hurt people’s lives, even far from the fighting?
  4. If a family member disappeared, what would be hardest for you?
  5. Is “not knowing” sometimes worse than bad news? Why?
  6. What can friends say or do to support someone who is grieving?
  7. How much do you trust DNA tests? Why?
  8. What do you think life is like as a prisoner of war?
  9. Have you been separated from someone that you love? For how long?
  10. When Nataliya's family were reunified, how do you think they celebrated?

Discussion Questions

  1. What part of this family's story surprised you most? Why?
  2. How do you think Nataliya felt when she heard Nazar's voice?
  3. In what ways does war hurt people’s lives, even far from the fighting?
  4. If a family member disappeared, what would be hardest for you?
  5. Is “not knowing” sometimes worse than bad news? Why?
  6. What can friends say or do to support someone who is grieving?
  7. How much do you trust DNA tests? Why?
  8. What do you think life is like as a prisoner of war?
  9. Have you been separated from someone that you love? For how long?
  10. When Nataliya's family were reunified, how do you think they celebrated?

Answers Ukrainian Soldier Returns After Family Funeral / Level 3

Listening: (1) buried, (2) alive, (3) missing, (4) funeral, (5) investigating, (6) hope

True or False:

  1. True. The story says the family buried a body identified as Nazar's in 2023.
  2. False. The story says they had no official news for a long time.
  3. True. The story says a released soldier called in September and said he had seen Nazar in prison.
  4. False. The story says they removed funeral material online so it would not upset him.

Multiple Choice: b, c, a, c

Put Events in Order:

  1. When the war began, Nazar went to the front right away.
  2. In May 2022, Nazar went missing.
  3. Nazar's family buried a body identified as his.
  4. A released soldier said he saw Nazar in prison.
  5. Nazar called his mother after a prisoner swap.

Vocabulary:

  1. Bury: a body
  2. Call: his mother
  3. Use: DNA
  1. Hold: a funeral
  2. Live: with grief
  3. Bring: hope

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Contrast. 2) Reason. 3) Result.

  1. But,
  2. because
  3. Because of that,

eslnewsstories.com