Ukraine mourns “collector of souls” Oleksiy Yukov, killed recovering war dead
Ukraine has mourned Oleksiy Yukov, a volunteer known as a “collector of souls” for recovering the bodies of people killed in war, after he died in a landmine explosion during a mission. His death highlights the continuing dangers faced by those who retrieve and identify the dead near the front line, allowing families to bury relatives and helping document the human cost of the conflict.
Thousands attended an Orthodox service in Kyiv and gathered at Maidan Square following Yukov’s death on 5 August; he was 40. He founded the Platsdarm volunteer group and had recovered civilian and military bodies, including many Russian soldiers, for more than two decades; despite losing an eye and sustaining leg injuries in a mine blast in 2022, he returned to the work. His widow, Evhenyia Kaluhyna, said she would continue the group’s mission.
In short
- Ukrainian recovery volunteer Oleksiy Yukov was killed by a landmine.
- Thousands attended his funeral in Kyiv.
- His group recovered Ukrainian, Russian and civilian war dead.
Explained simply
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, after years of conflict in the east of the country. Fighting has killed civilians and soldiers on both sides, and many bodies remain in dangerous areas near the front line.
Volunteer teams such as Platsdarm search for and recover the dead, then help identify them and return them to their families. This can allow relatives to hold funerals and help authorities keep records of those killed, including soldiers from opposing forces.
The work often takes place where mines and unexploded weapons remain, putting recovery teams at risk. Their efforts matter to families seeking answers and to the wider record of the war’s human toll.