Ukraine buries young soldier who planned to marry

By: 2 years ago

Ukrainian servicemen attend a funeral ceremony for their brothers-in-arms Volodymyr Hirniak, Serhii Kovalov and Mykola Zabavchuk, who were recently killed in a battle against Russian troops, as Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine continues, in Lviv, Ukraine July 26, 2022. REUTERS

LVIV, Ukraine 鈥� Ukrainian soldier Mykola Zabavchuk planned to marry his girlfriend when he next returned home from the war against Russia, but never made it back.

Zabavchuk, who was 25, and two other soldiers were buried in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Tuesday after being killed in action.

鈥淗e was a very good boyfriend, a sincere one. He loved and took care of me very much. He was very devoted to me and to his friends,鈥� his fiancee Oleksandra told Reuters at the funeral.

鈥淏efore his departure, he proposed. We planned a wedding after the rotation. It was not destined (to come true).鈥�

At the funeral, a uniformed soldier held a portrait of Zabavchuk, smiling and cradling a dog under his right arm.

鈥淲e have a little dog Arei. It is in the picture. I will foster it, take care of it 鈥� he wanted this very much. He called it his son, (and) so it is.鈥�

Led by one soldier carrying a cross and another holding the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, mourners formed a procession behind Zabavchuk鈥檚 coffin and those of two other soldiers.

Zabavchuk had planned a career in IT (information technologies) after graduating from Lviv Polytechnic National University. He fought with a territorial defense brigade.

鈥淗e volunteered for a 鈥榤ilitary operation鈥� as they (Russians) call it but which is a war against the Ukrainian nation,鈥� said his father, also called Mykola Zabavchuk.

鈥淗is callsign was 鈥楤ilyi鈥� (鈥榃hite鈥�), so everybody called him honest, frank, and decent,鈥� he said.

The Kremlin says it is engaged in a 鈥渟pecial military operation鈥� to demilitarize and 鈥渄enazify鈥� Ukraine. Kyiv and Western nations say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression.

黑料社