'They told me on WhatsApp my son had died': Mother of Panamanian in Ukraine cries for answers

Herminia Mariotta, mother of 31-year-old Michael Alexander Navas, is pleading for answers regarding her son's fate after he traveled to Ukraine from Panama on May 6th, seeking employment.

Navas initially told his mother he was going to Istanbul for a construction job, but his journey involved several stops before reaching Ukraine. While communication was initially normal, he later expressed a strong desire to return home, telling his mother, "Mom, I want to leave, but it's hard to get out of here."

The situation took a distressing turn when Mariotta saw a TikTok video of her son in military attire. Confronted, Navas admitted he hadn't wanted to reveal the true purpose of his trip. The family then received a WhatsApp message on August 1st stating that Michael Alexander Navas had died as a fallen soldier.

Despite this message, Mariotta clings to hope that her son is alive. She has been instructed to travel to Ukraine for DNA testing and to submit personal documents for identification. She has sought assistance from Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, urging them to locate her son and bring him back to Panama, even if it's just a part of him. The case highlights growing concerns about other young Panamanians who have traveled to Ukraine under similar job offers and become involved in the conflict.