Ukraine bids farewell to 'collector of souls' killed in landmine blast

Ukraine held a solemn farewell on Saturday for Oleksii Yukov, a volunteer who dedicated more than two decades to recovering the bodies of civilians and soldiers, many of them Russian, from battlefields and mass graves. Yukov died on August 5 when a landmine exploded during one of his recovery missions.

Thousands gathered at the Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr in central Kyiv for an Orthodox Christian service, with many more assembling at Maidan Square to pay their respects. The cathedral was filled with mourners, some weeping, as priests led prayers and candles were lit.

Yukov began his grim work as a teenager after discovering the remains of Soviet and Russian soldiers from World War II. He later founded the organization Platsdarm, meaning "bridgehead," driven by the belief that every dead person deserves a proper burial. His efforts earned him the nickname "collector of souls."

His daughter, Diana Kaluhina, remembered him as someone who "helped the dead and healed the living." She said, "He didn't just give them hope—he brought them back. People weren't just living in anticipation. They were truly brought back home."

Fellow volunteer Liudmyla Volter described Yukov as meticulous and careful, planning every operation in detail. She noted that he was also a martial arts instructor who taught his team to never give up, even when victory seemed close.

Yukov's widow, Yevheniia Kaluhina, sobbing over her husband's open casket, vowed to continue his work. She appealed to mothers, saying, "He always said that mothers shouldn't give up and should fight for their children." Her words echoed the pain of a nation that has lost countless lives in the ongoing conflict.