The funeral of Oleksiy Yukov, an important figure in Ukraine known for recovering the remains of soldiers and civilians, took place at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv. Yukov was killed by a landmine during a mission in the eastern Donetsk region.

Yukov, aged 40, died on August 5 while attempting to exhume a body. His friend, Serhiy Hnezdilov, shared his thoughts on social media, describing Yukov’s work as giving names back to the dead. Thousands attended his funeral in an Orthodox Christian service in Kyiv after similar honors in Sloviansk, his hometown.

Yukov dedicated his life to bringing closure to families of war victims. In 2022, he suffered severe injuries from a mine blast but continued his work. His interest began as a teenager, searching for WWII battle remains in Ukraine. In 2014, after Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea, he founded Platsdarm, aiming to identify and provide dignified burials for those killed in conflict.

Yukov and his team became known for recovering remains of both Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, as well as civilians. The tasks involved surveying areas for mines and unexploded devices, ensuring safety through careful removal and then conducting searches for bodies.

Despite the conflict, Yukov maintained a compassionate approach, collecting remains on both sides. He publicly expressed that although Russia’s actions caused tremendous grief, Ukrainians remained humane.

In a documentary about Platsdarm, Yukov reflected on his beliefs concerning the rebirth of souls. He expressed that unburied bodies remain bound to their souls, unable to move on until mourned by their loved ones.