Oksana Dudar, left, wife of Viktor Dudar, hugs her mother-in-law during her husband’s funeral Tuesday in Lviv, Ukraine. Viktor is a soldier who was killed by the Russian army. A US defense analyst estimated more than 1,500 people were killed in the first five days of the war. The Ukrainian military told NPR that it did not disclose the number of soldiers killed in the war with Russia.
Claire Harbage / NPR
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Oksana Dudar, left, wife of Viktor Dudar, hugs her mother-in-law during her husband’s funeral Tuesday in Lviv, Ukraine. Viktor is a soldier who was killed by the Russian army. A US defense analyst estimated more than 1,500 people were killed in the first five days of the war. The Ukrainian military told NPR that it did not disclose the number of soldiers killed in the war with Russia.
Claire Harbage / NPR
The first Ukrainian soldiers are starting to return home.
At a Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in the western city of Lviv in the country, which has so far been spared Russia’s worst invasion, hundreds of people gathered on Tuesday to receive the funeral. bodies of 44-year-old Viktor Dudar and 24-year-old Ivan Koverznev.
Dudar is a journalist turned soldier. Koverznev is a lieutenant. Both men were killed by the Russians a week after the invasion.
Soldiers and priests entered the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Tuesday in downtown Lviv, Ukraine, carrying a crucifix and an image of Ivan Koverznev, a Ukrainian lieutenant who was captured by the army. Russia killed on 2/3.
Claire Harbage / NPR
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Soldiers and priests entered the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Tuesday in downtown Lviv, Ukraine, carrying a crucifix and an image of Ivan Koverznev, a Ukrainian lieutenant who was captured by the army. Russia killed on 2/3.
Claire Harbage / NPR
A US defense analyst estimated that more than 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the first five days of the war. The Ukrainian military told NPR that it did not disclose the number of soldiers lost so far in the fighting.
But even without an official death toll, the number of Russian invaders has become more apparent in towns and cities across Ukraine.
Mourning mourners attend the funeral of two soldiers, Ivan Koverznev, 24, and Viktor Dudar, 44, at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in downtown Lviv, Ukraine on Tuesday.
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Mourning mourners attend the funeral of two soldiers, Ivan Koverznev, 24, and Viktor Dudar, 44, at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in downtown Lviv, Ukraine on Tuesday.
Claire Harbage / NPR
After the funeral, at Lviv’s Lychakiv Cemetery, as the coffins were being lowered into their graves, a former colleague of Dudar’s – another journalist turned soldier came to pay his respects – said, I’m sure there will be more funerals to come.
“A lot of people will be killed because of Lviv,” he said.
Beside his friend’s final resting place were three other open graves awaiting three more soldiers to be brought to their resting place later that night.
A funeral procession passes through the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
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A funeral procession passes through the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
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A soldier is grieving during a funeral for her two fallen comrades at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
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A soldier is grieving during a funeral for her two fallen comrades at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
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Tuesday’s funeral ended at the grave sites where soldiers Viktor Dudar, 44, and Ivan Koverznev, 24, will be buried as priests offer their blessings and mourners.
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Tuesday’s funeral ended at the grave sites where soldiers Viktor Dudar, 44, and Ivan Koverznev, 24, will be buried as priests offer their blessings and mourners.
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Sofia Dudar (left) and her mother, Oksana Dudar, oversee the burial of Viktor Dudar, their father and husband, who was killed by Russian troops. Viktor is a journalist turned soldier.
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Sofia Dudar (left) and her mother, Oksana Dudar, oversee the burial of Viktor Dudar, their father and husband, who was killed by Russian troops. Viktor is a journalist turned soldier.
Claire Harbage / NPR
Soldiers fire round bullets to celebrate two soldiers who were killed during Tuesday’s funeral in Lviv, Ukraine.
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Soldiers fire round bullets to celebrate two soldiers who were killed during Tuesday’s funeral in Lviv, Ukraine.
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Men fill graves with earth as soldiers and other mourners search Tuesday in Lviv, Ukraine.
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Men fill graves with earth as soldiers and other mourners search Tuesday in Lviv, Ukraine.
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The mother of Ukrainian journalist Viktor Dudar (centre) mourns at his grave as he is laid to rest Tuesday in Lviv, Ukraine.
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The mother of Ukrainian journalist Viktor Dudar (centre) mourns at his grave as he is laid to rest Tuesday in Lviv, Ukraine.
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After the burial, soldiers and other mourners continued to pay their respects at the soldiers’ graves. Three open graves and loose grounds were set to receive more bodies following funeral services scheduled for Tuesday night.
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After the burial, soldiers and other mourners continued to pay their respects at the soldiers’ graves. Three open graves and loose grounds were set to receive more bodies following funeral services scheduled for Tuesday night.
Claire Harbage / NPR
