Russia Invades Ukraine
Ukrainian Village Mourns Soldier Brothers Killed On Consecutive Days
In the central Ukrainian village of Vodyane, locals turned out en masse to say farewell to two brothers who served in the same Ukrainian military brigade and were killed by Russian drones just one day apart.
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The funeral procession for brothers Oleh and Kostyantyn Zaliznyak passes through Petrove in Ukraine's central Kirovohrad region.
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Locals hold the Ukrainian flag as the funeral procession passes.
The two brothers, aged 33 and 29, served in Ukraine's 100th Mechanized Brigade and were killed at the front just one day apart.
The two brothers, aged 33 and 29, served in Ukraine's 100th Mechanized Brigade and were killed at the front just one day apart.
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An elderly woman kneels as the procession passes.
Oleh was fatally struck by a Russian first-person-view drone on April 14. His younger brother Kostyantyn was killed by a Molniya kamikaze drone during a combat mission the following day.
Oleh was fatally struck by a Russian first-person-view drone on April 14. His younger brother Kostyantyn was killed by a Molniya kamikaze drone during a combat mission the following day.
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The bodies of the men arrive at the family home in Vodyane, where the two brothers were raised.
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Relatives and loved ones say their final goodbyes under a blossoming pear tree on April 20.
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A statement from the local council memorialized the pair as "two boys from the same back yard, who were running through the trails of their native village," and who "always had each others' backs."
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Older brother Oleh was mobilized in October 2024 and served as a tank driver.
He had worked as a tractor driver and agricultural machine operator in civilian life.
He had worked as a tractor driver and agricultural machine operator in civilian life.
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Kostyantyn was first drafted into the military in 2017. “The young man devoted his entire adult life to military service,” the council said in its statement.
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The funeral procession moves toward the cemetery.
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A military serviceman hands a flag to the family of the brothers.
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The two men are survived by their parents, brothers, and wives. Oleh leaves behind a five-year-old daughter.
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The brothers were buried side by side in a shared grave in their village's cemetery.
“These guys were our true friends, brothers. We shared everything with them," Dmytro, a military officer said during the service. "For us, for the entire unit, this is a very big loss. They were very good friends and worthy men -- and worthy defenders of our Motherland,” he added.
“These guys were our true friends, brothers. We shared everything with them," Dmytro, a military officer said during the service. "For us, for the entire unit, this is a very big loss. They were very good friends and worthy men -- and worthy defenders of our Motherland,” he added.
