- Yukov spent over two decades recovering bodies of civilians and soldiers killed by war, and he was 40 years old at the time of his death.
- He founded Platsdarm (Bridgehead) to ensure all dead receive a proper burial.
- Yukov suffered leg injuries and lost an eye in a mine blast in 2022 but returned to the front line.
- He was killed in a landmine explosion during a recovery mission on Wednesday.
- On Saturday, an Orthodox Christian service was held at the Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr in Kyiv, with thousands attending.
- Mourners gathered at Maidan Square, dropping to their knees as his casket was brought.
- Evhenyia Kaluhyna, his widow, promised to continue his work, while his daughter Diana Kaluhyna spoke of his impact.
- Yukov became known as a collector of souls for his dedication to recovering the dead.
- Platsdarm’s volunteers go into fields and forests, among ruins and across territory, where the ground is often mined.
- Yukov spoke of his work in religious terms, emphasizing that a body was a soul waiting to go home.
- Evhenyia Kaluhyna expressed her commitment to continue her husband's work, stating, 'The work was difficult and terrifying.'
- Diana Kaluhyna highlighted her father's impact, saying he 'honored the dead and healed the living.'
Ukraine mourned Oleksandr Yukov, a dedicated volunteer who spent over two decades recovering the bodies of war victims, including many Russians. He died at 40 in a landmine explosion while on a recovery mission.134810
An Orthodox Christian service at the Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr drew thousands, with mourners kneeling in respect as his casket arrived. Yukov founded Platsdarm, or Bridgehead, believing every deceased deserves a proper burial.259
His widow, Evhenyia Kaluhyna, vowed to continue his mission, stating, “The work was difficult and terrifying... but I promise you we will continue it because the (dead) deserve it.”711
Yukov's daughter, Diana Kaluhyna, highlighted his impact, saying, “He honored the dead and healed the living.” Despite suffering injuries from a previous mine blast, Yukov returned to the front lines, driven by a commitment to recover every soul. He once expressed, “Remote mines, shelling, drones — everything is against you. But you go and do everything to ensure that every soul returns home.” Yukov viewed his work as a sacred duty, stating, “This is action every day in the fields, in the forest belts, among the ruins, where your life can end at any moment.”12
“Yukov founded Platsdarm, or Bridgehead, to ensure all dead receive proper burial, even Russian soldiers. His widow Evhenyia Kaluhyna, sobbing at the funeral, promised to continue his mission, saying 'the dead deserve it.'”
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