KYIV: In Kyiv’s Maidan Square , a sea of flags flutters in the breeze, each bearing the name of a soldier who gave their life defending Ukraine. Scattered across the city, makeshift memorials draw people throughout the day—lighting candles and offering prayers for loved ones. Some come to honor relatives, while others pay tribute to those they never knew but whose sacrifice has become personal.
At a memorial near St. Sophia, Olexander Dudinov stands quietly, his grief palpable as he remembers his two sons—one biological, one adopted—both lost to the war. Olexander’s biological son, Denis Dudinov , known by the call sign “Phantom,” was born in Donetsk and later moved to Kyiv, where he studied law. Though initially rejected from the army due to poor eyesight, Denis became a combat translator in the Azov battalion. Over time, he mastered various military skills and became a universal soldier. He died on March 20, 2022, in Mariupol, defending the city from relentless bombings.
Olexander’s adopted son, Dmytro Golitsyn , shared Denis’s sense of duty. Also born in Donetsk, Dmytro was a lawyer who volunteered to join the Shakhtarsk battalion in 2014. He fought courageously but was fatally wounded during the battles for Ilovaisk. Dmytro died on August 29, 2014, but his memory continues to guide Olexander as he navigates life without his sons.
With tears in his eyes, Olexander recalls both sons’ passion for motor sports and Ukrainian life. Denis, he remembers, fought for eight years in the sunflower fields of Donbas, a fact that resonates deeply as he lays sunflowers at their memorials.
"Both of my sons participated in the protests at Kyiv's Maidan. They saved many who snipers shot in February 2022," he told TOI. Olexander shared. "I’m a native of Donetsk and moved to Kyiv after their deaths. Today, I brought sunflowers. My older son, who was fatally injured and died, loved sunflowers. He fought in those fields for eight years before dying in the urban battles of Mariupol. Both of my sons took Indian yoga classes. Sadly, they left no grandchildren."
“This war will not end quickly,” he added softly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "We will win, but the price is very high."
Olexander's loss is shared by countless families across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February 2024 stated that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the full-scale invasion began. Other estimates suggest even higher numbers. For each family, the loss feels immeasurable. As Kyiv continues to bear witness to its people's grief, the city’s makeshift memorials remain a solemn reminder of the war's human cost.
At a memorial near St. Sophia, Olexander Dudinov stands quietly, his grief palpable as he remembers his two sons—one biological, one adopted—both lost to the war. Olexander’s biological son, Denis Dudinov , known by the call sign “Phantom,” was born in Donetsk and later moved to Kyiv, where he studied law. Though initially rejected from the army due to poor eyesight, Denis became a combat translator in the Azov battalion. Over time, he mastered various military skills and became a universal soldier. He died on March 20, 2022, in Mariupol, defending the city from relentless bombings.
Olexander’s adopted son, Dmytro Golitsyn , shared Denis’s sense of duty. Also born in Donetsk, Dmytro was a lawyer who volunteered to join the Shakhtarsk battalion in 2014. He fought courageously but was fatally wounded during the battles for Ilovaisk. Dmytro died on August 29, 2014, but his memory continues to guide Olexander as he navigates life without his sons.
With tears in his eyes, Olexander recalls both sons’ passion for motor sports and Ukrainian life. Denis, he remembers, fought for eight years in the sunflower fields of Donbas, a fact that resonates deeply as he lays sunflowers at their memorials.
"Both of my sons participated in the protests at Kyiv's Maidan. They saved many who snipers shot in February 2022," he told TOI. Olexander shared. "I’m a native of Donetsk and moved to Kyiv after their deaths. Today, I brought sunflowers. My older son, who was fatally injured and died, loved sunflowers. He fought in those fields for eight years before dying in the urban battles of Mariupol. Both of my sons took Indian yoga classes. Sadly, they left no grandchildren."
“This war will not end quickly,” he added softly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "We will win, but the price is very high."
Olexander's loss is shared by countless families across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February 2024 stated that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the full-scale invasion began. Other estimates suggest even higher numbers. For each family, the loss feels immeasurable. As Kyiv continues to bear witness to its people's grief, the city’s makeshift memorials remain a solemn reminder of the war's human cost.
