The father of a volunteer soldier killed in Ukraine launched a group to help families of war victims

A Canadian whose son was killed earlier in the war in Ukraine is now working to help those whose loved ones have been lost in action get answers.

His new organization, called the International League of POW/MIA Families of the War in Ukraine, aims to establish a central body responsible for helping families around the world.

“Behind every prisoner of war, behind every missing soldier, there is a whole family living with uncertainty, fear and unanswered questions,” said Marc Mazerolle, who lives in New Brunswick.

“Our mission is simple: to support families, to stand up for the truth, to promote transparency, to protect humanity, dignity and to ensure that no family has to walk this difficult journey alone.”

He said the organization has three main goals:

• Keep the cause of the Ukrainian war POWs and MIAs alive, make sure their voices and stories are not forgotten.
• Bring together global family organizations and support groups, encouraging them to share information, collaborate and build strong relationships.
• Provide families with immediate guidance, reliable resources and compassionate support during what Mazerolle calls “one of the most difficult times of their lives.”

Ultimately he wants to establish a centralized international organization that coordinates services for families anywhere in the world who have loved ones missing or killed in Ukraine – working with governments, humanitarian organizations, legal professionals and other partners.

The first organization of its kind

Mazerolle launched the organization after the death of her son, Patrick, as a volunteer soldier with the Ukrainian International Legion.

“As we begin to navigate this difficult journey, we have discovered that thousands of families from all over the world are facing the same uncertainty,” he said.

“For those families, every phone call matters, every email matters, every detail matters. Every day without an answer feels like an eternity.”

The league is based in Canada and is the first of its kind, according to Mazerolle. He says he is currently helping about 40 families from all over the world including Canada, France, Finland, Australia and Czechia.

“I talk to new families every week,” said Mazerolle. “The disabled don’t know where to go, they don’t even know where to turn. It’s slow.”

Mazerolle said that between 70,000 and 90,000 people from the Ukrainian International Legion are missing in Ukraine.

He said 27 Canadians had died, according to his research and information from Ukrainian agencies and foreign nationals.

“It was clear that families need an international voice, a voice that knows how to unite people across borders, a voice dedicated to compassion, cooperation, dignity and hope,” he said.

The representative of this unit, Taras Kulish, said that they hope to open an office in Kyiv.

He said one of the biggest roadblocks for families is that the Ukrainian government cannot provide the assistance international families need to find information about their loved ones.

This is where he hopes the world can intervene.

“The purpose of this unit is to encourage other governments and international organizations to help Ukraine so that Ukraine does not carry the burden alone,” said Kulish.

“The unit hopes that Canadian parliamentarians will also step up to the call and help advocate for resources as far as training for the Ukrainian government and things like identification and DNA.”

Mazerolle tour

Patrick Mazerolle volunteered for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion and fought at the front for a little over three months. He was killed on September 1, 2025, at the age of 24.

“Our son volunteered to defend Ukraine, and his sacrifice changed our lives forever,” said Marc Mazerolle.

He said that according to Global Affairs Canada, Patrick is still considered missing. CBC News has contacted Global Affairs Canada to confirm the status of Patrick Mazerolle but has not yet received a response.

While the family is trying to deal with the pain of not knowing what happened, his wife he took it upon himself to start searching.

“We talked to 14 armed brothers until we talked to the last one who was with him when he passed,” said Mazerolle. “We know exactly where he passed, I had a gap of 15 minutes the day he passed.

“But from Global Affairs Canada and the government of Ukraine, which is a slow process, my son continues to be missing.”

Mazerolle was trying to bring his son’s body back to Canada.

“I understand that they are at war,” he said. “It will take time, but we are not giving up hope.”

Mazerolle has traveled the world on her own dime, including going to Ukraine in February, to advocate for others and try to bring her son home. Now he has made it his mission to prevent this same struggle from happening to others.

“Pain has no nationality, hope has no borders,” he said. “Whether a family lives in Ukraine, Canada, the United States, Europe or anywhere else in the world, all families deserve compassion, respect and true information.”