Farewell to a hero: Ukrainian soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice defending Kyiv from Russian invaders is carried through packed streets in an open coffin draped in a blue and yellow flag
- Mykola Zhdanyanchy was killed defending Vasylkiv in the first days of the war
- He helped fight off a Russian parachute regiment trying to seize a military base
- The streets were packed to honour the war casualty in Turka today
The brutal reality of war came to a village in western Ukraine today when a soldier who gave his life defending Kyiv was laid to rest.
Mykola Zhdanyanchyn was among hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers killed or wounded in fierce fighting at the battle of Vasylkiv – a strategically important town near the capital – in the first few days of the war.
Today his friends, neighbours and almost every resident of Turka, a village in the Carpathian mountain close to the border with Poland, packed the streets to honour Mykola, who had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Mykola Zhdanyanchyn was laid to rest in Ukraine today in an open casket funeral as villagers paid their respects
He was among hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers killed or wounded in fierce fighting at the battle of Vasylkiv, pictured doing a pro-democracy salute
Today his friends, neighbours and almost every resident of Turka, a village in the Carpathian mountain close to the border with Poland, packed the streets
Hundreds of well-wishers stood for over an hour on the village’s ice-packed pavements
He had been defending a strategically important town near the capital in the first few days of the war
Hundreds of well-wishers stood for over an hour on the village’s ice-packed pavements in temperatures of minus 5 degrees Celsius to remember the 49-year-old.
Snowflakes fell from the sky as the mourners took part in the Christian Orthodox funeral service at the village’s Church of St Peter and St Paul at lunchtime today, taking off their hats and crossing themselves.
Every pew in the church was full and the service was pipped out on to the streets by loud speakers.
Traffic came to a standstill and fireman stood to attention outside their fire station as Mykola was carried through the streets in an open coffin and draped in the Ukrainian blue and yellow flat to the village’s frozen cemetery.
Snowflakes fell from the sky as the mourners took part in the Christian Orthodox funeral service
Traffic came to a standstill and fireman stood to attention outside their fire station as Mykola was carried through the streets
He was draped in the Ukrainian blue and yellow flat and was taken to the village’s frozen cemetery
‘Mykola is a hero,’ one well-wisher told MailOnline. ‘He died protecting our land, our country. No one will ever forget him’
‘Mykola is a hero,’ one well-wisher told MailOnline. ‘He died protecting our land, our country. No one will ever forget him.’
In a tribute to their fallen son, the Turka mayor’s office said: ‘Today, March 4th, the village of Turka said goodbye to the fallen hero Mykola Zhdanyanchyn.
‘The funeral and farewell ceremony with the hero took place at the Church of St Peter and St Paul.
‘Mykola Zhdanyanchyn was buried in the local cemetery.
‘Eternal memory of the hero!’
Hundreds came to the village’s Church of St Peter and St Paul at lunchtime today, taking off their hats and crossing themselves
Every pew in the church was full and the service was pipped out on to the streets by loud speakers
Mykola Zhdanyanchyn was a part of the Ukrainian Army’s 128th brigade that fought off a Russian parachute regiment
He was killed in the early hours on 27th February, on the third day of the Russian invasion
Amid heavy fighting the Ukrainian forces managed to retain control of the city of Vasylkiv and the nearby air base, despite suffering many casualties
The mayor of Vaslkiv, Natalia Balasynovych, later confirmed that Mykola and his comrades had repelled the assault
The failure of the Russian Army mission to capture the military air base seriously hampered their planned onslaught on the capital Kyiv
On the day that Mykola was killed a Ukrainian fighter pilot shot down two Ilyushin II-76 Russian troop carrier plane killing hundreds of paratroopers
Mykola Zhdanyanchyn was a part of the Ukrainian Army’s 128th brigade that fought off a Russian parachute regiment who had dropped from the skies to try to capture the Vasylkiv Military Air Base.
He was killed in the early hours on 27th February, on the third day of the Russian invasion.
Amid heavy fighting the Ukrainian forces managed to retain control of the city of Vasylkiv and the nearby air base, despite suffering many casualties.
The mayor of Vaslkiv, Natalia Balasynovych, later confirmed that Mykola and his comrades had repelled the assault by the Russian paratroopers on the military air base near the city.
On the day that Mykola was killed a Ukrainian fighter pilot shot down two Ilyushin II-76 Russian troop carrier plane killing hundreds of paratroopers.
The failure of the Russian Army mission to capture the military air base seriously hampered their planned onslaught on the capital Kyiv.
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