Ukraine Honors Its 'collector Of Souls,' Who Was Killed While Recovering The War Dead

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine paid tribute connected Saturday to Oleksiy Yukov, a unpaid who spent much than 2 decades recovering nan bodies of civilians and soldiers — Ukrainian and Russian alike — killed by war. He was 40.

An Orthodox Christian work was held astatine nan Cathedral of St. Volodymyr successful cardinal Kyiv, wherever thousands gathered to salary their respects aft his decease successful a land-mine detonation during a betterment ngo Wednesday.

Mourners besides gathered astatine Kyiv’s main Maidan Square, galore dropping to their knees retired of respect arsenic his casket was brought to nan site. Memorial services were besides held successful different cities crossed Ukraine.

Yukov founded nan Platsdarm — “bridgehead” — statement because he believed each nan dormant require a due burial. He became known arsenic a “collector of souls.”

From nan war-torn Donbas region, Yukov was a martial arts instructor. He began recovering nan dormant arsenic a teen aft encountering nan remains of Soviet soldiers from World War II.

Platsdarm’s volunteers spell into fields and forests, among ruins and crossed territory, wherever nan crushed is often mined.

Yukov’s widow, Evhenyia Kaluhyna, promised to proceed his work, sobbing arsenic she said astatine nan funeral, wearing an embroidered achromatic dress and opinionated complete her husband’s unfastened casket.

“The activity was difficult and terrifying,” she said. “But I committedness you we will proceed it because nan [dead] merit it, and you merit it for everything you did.”

Speaking to nan Associated Press, Yukov’s girl Diana Kaluhyna said nan “love and kindness” he showed to grieving families had moved nan nation.

“What stayed pinch maine coming was nan elemental truth: He honored nan dormant and healed nan living,” she said. “He offered much than hope; he restored people.”

Yukov had suffered limb injuries and mislaid an oculus successful a excavation blast successful 2022. Still recovering from those injuries, he returned to nan beforehand line.

In a societal media station past month, Yukov described nan scenery successful which he worked. “Remote mines, shelling, drones — everything is against you. But you spell and do everything to guarantee that each psyche returns home,” he said.

He besides addressed those who believed Russian bodies should simply beryllium near behind: “When they say: ‘Let them rot,’ I do not agree. This is really we conflict for each soul.”

Yukov said of his activity successful belief terms, saying a assemblage was a psyche waiting to spell home.

“This is action,” he wrote. “Action each time successful nan fields, successful nan wood belts, among nan ruins, wherever your life tin extremity astatine immoderate moment.”

Yurchuk and Lukatsky constitute for nan Associated Press. AP writer Derek Gatopoulos successful Athens contributed to this report.