A tragic loss has occurred within the humanitarian and search services of Ukraine. Alexey Yukov, head of the 'Platzdarm' search group from Sloviansk, was killed during the Russo-Ukrainian war. The tragedy occurred on Wednesday, August 5, as announced by his wife on social media.
Circumstances of Death
According to the deceased's colleague, military man and activist Serhiy Hnezdilov, Alexey Yukov received a fatal wound while carrying out a combat mission. The incident took place on the line of contact when the group was conducting the exhumation of fallen soldiers. Hnezdilov, expressing deep sorrow, called Yukov's death a great loss for his personal circle and the entire search community.
The Path of a Searcher
Alexey Yukov dedicated more than 25 years to search activities. In 2013, he officially registered the search unit of the Association of Researchers of Military-Historical Heritage 'Platzdarm'. Since the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014, his life has been entirely devoted to the evacuation of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian warriors from the hottest spots on the front.
The work of Yukov and his team took place in extreme conditions: on minefields and under constant shelling. The main goal of the searchers was to return the most valuable thing to families — the opportunity to bid a worthy farewell to their loved ones. The 'Platzdarm' group operated in close cooperation with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine within the framework of the humanitarian project 'On the Shield', returning names to the fallen heroes.
Memory and Loss
Colleagues emphasize that Alexey Yukov spent most of his life in Sloviansk, and his name became a symbol of respect for every fallen soldier of the Donbas. In the group 'Missing in Action 150th Separate Mechanized Brigade', it was noted that with Yukov, Ukraine lost not only a brave man but also hope for thousands of families who are still waiting for news about their loved ones.
