Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy pose for a portrait at their home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)
The Biletskiys and seven of their children uprooted when Russia invaded. Now in Pierce County, they long for news from their oldest, a POW soldier. Read the full story here.
Valeria Biletska, center, carries a picture of her son, Roman Biletskiy, during a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska, center, holds a picture of her son, Roman Biletskiy, during a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska holds a picture of her son, Roman Biletskiy, during a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Lina Ngo, right, hugs Valeria Biletska, left, during a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Biletska’s son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Candles and flowers are seen on the ground at Westlake Park, as demonstrators gather for a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska places a hand on the shoulder of her husband, Roman Biletskiy, during a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)A ribbon that says Ukraine is seen atop flowers, during a rally at Westlake Park to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska, left, holds a picture of her son, Roman Biletskiy, next to her husband, Roman Biletskiy, right, during a rally to commemorate the 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were massacred in a Russian prison in 2022, at Westlake Park in Seattle, Washington on July 28, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of the massacre and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)A photograph of Roman Biletskiy is seen at an art studio owned by his parents, Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy, in Orting, Washington on August 14, 2024. Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy pose for a portrait at their home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy pose for a portrait with four of their children, from left, Nadia, 19, Lesia, 13, Yuri, 13, and Roman, 15, at their home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Roman Biletskiy and Valeria Biletska chat with their children, Roman, left, and Lesia, while finishing a meal at their home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska prepares pastries at her home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Her son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Roman Biletskiy opens a beehive that he keeps at his home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. His son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy play a game with their children, from left, Roman, Yuri, and Nadia, at their home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Valeria Biletska looks at a garden at their home in Bonney Lake, Washington on August 14, 2024. Her son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Roman Biletskiy sets up for the day at an art studio he and his wife operate in Orting, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)A message from community members in Ukraine is seen transcribed and posted for viewing at an art studio operated by Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy in Orting, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)Artworks painted by Valeria Biletska are seen on display at an art studio operated by Valeria Biletska and Roman Biletskiy in Orting, Washington on August 14, 2024. Their son, Roman Biletskiy, 23, is one of the survivors of a massacre in a Russian prison and is still in Russian custody. (David Ryder for Cascade PBS)
