Mourners gathered in Kyiv on Thursday to honor Oleksiy Yukov, a Ukrainian volunteer known for recovering the bodies of fallen soldiers and civilians in the conflict-ridden Donetsk region. Yukov, 40, who earned the nickname "The Collector of Souls," died on Wednesday after triggering a landmine while performing recovery operations.

Yukov founded the volunteer group Platsdarm, which specializes in searching battlefields and destroyed areas for the remains of both Ukrainian and Russian casualties. He emphasized the importance of giving all deceased individuals a respectful burial, regardless of nationality. The funeral service was held at the Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr in central Kyiv, where family members and community members paid their respects. Evhenyia, Yukov’s widow, addressed attendees, expressing her commitment to continue his mission.

The funeral coincided with an escalation in violence around Kyiv. Russian strikes targeted the capital and nearby areas, killing four civilians, including a child. Ukrainian forces reported shortages of ground-to-air missiles as the attacks intensify. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, signaling ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian military logistics.

Yukov’s death highlights the perilous conditions faced by volunteers and civilians amid the protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine, where landmines remain a significant hazard. The work of Platsdarm and similar groups plays a critical role in providing closure to families and preserving dignity for the war dead.