On February 23, the TV channel STB begins the Ukrainian TV premiere of the Israeli series “Prisoners of War” (original title — “Hatufim”). This is a story about the return of soldiers after 17 years of captivity and what happens to them and their families afterward.
The project at the time became an international event and formed the basis for the American series “Homeland.” In Ukraine, the screening is seen not only as a television premiere but also as the beginning of a public conversation about the return of military personnel from captivity and their adaptation to civilian life.
The premiere will take place on February 23 at 22:00. The screening — two episodes from Monday to Friday.
What is the series “Prisoners of War” about
The ten-episode Israeli drama tells the story of soldiers who return home after 17 years of Syrian captivity.
The main characters are Nimrod Klein and Uri Zach. Along with them, the remains of their friend and comrade Amiel Ben-Gorin return to Israel. The state greets them as national heroes, families — as people they almost stopped waiting for.
However, the plot focuses not on the moment of liberation, but on the complex reintegration. The heroes face post-traumatic syndrome, distrust, a changed reality, and the need to rebuild relationships with loved ones.
Children grew up without them. Some parents have already died. Society expects heroism but encounters trauma.
In parallel, a line of official investigation develops: a military psychiatrist notices inconsistencies in the stories of the released. An investigation begins to establish what exactly happened during the years of captivity and what remains outside the official versions.
Closed screening in the veteran space and participation of the Israeli side
On the eve of the TV premiere, STB, together with the Embassy of the State of Israel in Ukraine and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation of Israel, held a chamber screening and discussion in the veteran space “Veteran Hub.”
The event was attended by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Michael Brodsky, head of the ministry’s office Sonia Ishchenko, director of the STB channel Lyudmila Semchuk, as well as veterans and specialists working with people who have experienced captivity.
The moderator of the discussion was veteran and defender of Mariupol Gleb Strizhko.
The discussion focused on practical issues — psychological support, family expectations, difficulties in adapting to civilian life. The topic of the discrepancy between the public image of a “hero” and the real state of a person returning from captivity was raised.
In this context, the series’ screening goes beyond television. As noted in NAnovosti — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, Israel’s international experience in dealing with the consequences of captivity becomes relevant for the Ukrainian professional community.
Why the topic of returning from captivity remains relevant for Ukraine
Director of the charitable foundation “Human and Law” Boris Zakharov emphasized that among Ukrainians there are people who have been held in captivity for years.
Psychotherapist Maryana Mamonova noted that the real experience of the released often does not match the expectations of their families and society. Return is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new and complex stage.
The artistic format allows discussing painful topics carefully, without direct pressure. The series offers an opportunity to look at the problem through international experience, without turning it into a political declaration.
For Ukrainian television, this is also an important step: the Israeli drama about prisoners of war is being broadcast on national air for the first time against the backdrop of the ongoing war.
Special programming of STB from February 20 to 24
The screening of “Prisoners of War” is included in a special broadcast block for the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
During these days, viewers will be offered several military dramas and premiere projects.
“Mama” — February 20, 9:00 (two parts, 8 episodes)
The military drama is dedicated to the mothers of Ukrainian defenders. The plot is based on real events and tells the story of Nina Petrovna, whose son volunteered for the war and ended up in captivity in the temporarily occupied Donbas.
The only chance to find out the truth about his fate is to go in search of herself.
The project received international recognition: the series was presented in the main competition of the “Serial Killer” festival in Brno, shown on central TV channels in Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Estonia, and also released on the European platform “Arte” with dubbing and subtitles in several languages.
“Yurik” — February 20, 23:00
The story of a boy whose family died during shelling. The mother decides to send her son to Estonia to save him from possible deportation to Russia.
Yurik makes his way to the border through trains, cars, military equipment, and the help of random people. The central theme is maternal sacrifice and the power of love.
Production — “Osnova Film Production” company commissioned by the STB channel with the participation of international partners.
“Little Bird” — premiere February 21, 19:00 (4 episodes)
A melodrama about a woman whose personal life collapses at the same moment the war begins. A forced move becomes an attempt to start over and simultaneously a return to the past.
When to watch “Prisoners of War” on STB
The television premiere of the Israeli drama “Prisoners of War” will take place on February 23 at 22:00.
The screening will run on weekdays — two episodes per evening.
Organizers emphasize: this is only the first step towards a broader public dialogue about returning from captivity and systemic support for released military personnel.
For Israel, the topic of “hatufim” has long been part of the national conversation. For Ukraine, this conversation is just forming — and the television screening becomes part of this process.
TV channel STB
STB is one of the leading national TV channels in Ukraine. It is part of a large Ukrainian media group and specializes in the production of series, documentary projects, talk shows, and social formats.
The channel actively works with themes of war, veteran adaptation, family stories, and social transformations. In recent years, STB has focused on national content and projects based on real events, as well as collaborating with international partners in broadcasting and co-production.