In Depth With Graham Bensinger Oksana Masters: The Ukrainian government said I died in the orphanage | Trending Now
Mar 13, 2026
Oksana Masters, 17-time U.S. Paralympic medalist and Chernobyl survivor, shares her adoption story and a tense return to Ukraine. She recounts an abrupt family meeting, verifying relatives, and learning she had been declared dead. She discusses mixed emotions about reconnecting and the obstacles posed by war and privacy concerns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Abrupt Discovery Of Living Birth Family
- Oksana Masters was surprised by an abrupt reunion setup when Ukraine's adoption ombudsman told her her birth parents wanted to meet that day.
- She wasn't ready, spent the night crying, and hid from visitors while processing that her family existed and could show up at her events.
Validating Identity Through Cultural Details
- Oksana validated identity details like patronymic and birthdays to confirm her birth brother was genuine.
- Knowing specifics such as the Ukrainian patronymic Aleksandrovna gave her confidence despite lingering skepticism about DNA proof.
Told I Was Dead Until A News Story Revealed Me
- Oksana learned her mother had been told by hospitals and the government that Oksana would die, which pressured the mother to relinquish her.
- Her parents later tried to reclaim her but were repeatedly told she had died, so they only discovered she was alive after seeing her name on Ukrainian news about a medal.