{
  "id": 19112634,
  "title": "Tears and joy as Ukrainian couple divided by occupation meet again",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/tears-and-joy-as-ukrainian-couple-divided-by-occupation-meet-again",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T07:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261109/tears-and-joy-as-ukrainian-couple-divided-by-occupation-meet-again"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KYIV — Larysa Ryndova sprinted to reunite with her husband, as if they were embarking on a brand-new romance. Barely had they laid eyes on 68-year-old Serhiy after a harrowing four-and-a-half years, spent in the Russian-held town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine. \"I can't believe you're here,\" 72-year-old Larysa exclaimed repeatedly, mascara smeared with tears as they embraced outside a hospital in Kyiv. \"I can't believe it myself,\" Serhiy responded. They had last met in 2022 when Larysa fled to England to join their son, three months into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Serhiy remained to care for their family home, ultimately becoming stuck in the town plagued by Russian-installed landmines and facing a mounting humanitarian crisis. Their initial hope was for a better situation, but it only grew worse. \"We hoped for better, and it got better,\" Serhiy sarcastically remarked. Oleshky residents recounted enduring relentless drone attacks and lacking power and heating. The situation worsened this spring when food deliveries ceased. Serhiy finally escaped on October 30, accompanied by hundreds of other displaced individuals.",
  "summary": "KYIV — Larysa Ryndova hurried to see her husband as if they were going out on a first date — makeup on and perfume spritzed in the car. It was the first time she had laid eyes on 68-year-old Serhiy in 4-1/2 years — time he had spent trapped with others in the Russian-held town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine. \"I can't believe you are here,\" Larysa, 72, kept repeating, her mascara smudged with…",
  "key_points": [
    "Larysa and Serhiy, Ukrainian couple, reunited after four-and-a-half years",
    "Separated in Russian-held Oleshky during 2022 invasion",
    "Larysa fled to England, Serhiy remained, facing humanitarian crisis"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This reunion highlights the profound human cost of the occupation, where families are forced into long-term separation as residents endure deteriorating humanitarian conditions under Russian control.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}