Fallen Ukrainian soldier finally returns home

LVIV, Ukraine — As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, casualties among Ukrainian soldiers increase. On April 15 at a church on the outskirts of Lviv near the border with Poland, a funeral was held for 22-year-old lieutenant Oleksandr Bandrovsky, who had been at the front.

A large number of civilians joined the family at the funeral, with family members weeping as they clung to the co n.

Bandrovsky died at a base in Chernihiv in the northern part of Ukraine on Feb. 24, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. e area had been under heavy attack, so his body was not recovered until April 10.

“It took a long time,” said a 32-yearold military doctor who belonged to the same unit as the lieutenant. “But we were nally able to bring him back to his home.”

Bandrovsky was married two years ago and the wedding ring was still on his nger. At the funeral, his 22-yearold widow Oksana stood by the co n and wept.

ough Lviv is far from the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine where the Russian Army has focused its attacks, tensions continue to mount with air raid alarms sounding at night.

e Territorial Defense Forces, made up of ordinary citizens, led a rst-aid training session on Saturday in the center of Lviv. Homemakers were among the 10 people, including doctors and dentists who normally work in private clinics, who gathered to learn how to give rst aid on the battle eld.

“Anything could happen at any time in Lviv, too,” said a 36-year-old gynecologist. “Medical examinations and treatment on the battle eld are completely di erent. If we don’t learn, we will be useless.”

(Published in print on April 18)

Hiroto Sekiguchi / The Yomiuri Shimbun Family members mourn Oleksandr Bandrovsky at his funeral on the outskirts of Lviv, Ukraine, on April 15.