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A funeral has been held for Arkady Petrov, a former pupil of Kirkcudbright Academy in Dumfries and Galloway, who was killed while serving on the frontline in Ukraine. Arkady, who would have turned 21 on September 18, was laid to rest in Reni, Ukraine, on October 3. The service was attended by family members and military comrades.
His mother, Liudmyla, expressed the profound grief of losing her son, stating that the most frightening moment for any parent is “standing by their child’s grave.” During the funeral, she reflected on Arkady’s service, saying, “We bid farewell to our son. Our Arkady. Our Hero. Under the Ukrainian flag.”
Liudmyla recounted how they wanted to see Arkady off with dignity, love, and respect, and added, “When we were handed the flag of Ukraine, I held it in my hands and understood the terrible price it came at for our family.” She conveyed the heartache of never being able to see her son’s face or hear his voice again.
The Petrov family relocated to Kirkcudbright in 2022 due to the conflict with Russia, which has driven millions of Ukrainians to flee their homeland. Arkady attended Kirkcudbright Academy and had enrolled at Edinburgh University before deciding to return to Ukraine to fight. During the conflict, he was injured in June after suffering severe burns but tragically lost his life three months later.
Liudmyla also expressed gratitude towards those who supported her family during this difficult time. “Thank you to every person who was with our family during these terrible days,” she said, acknowledging the love and comfort extended through visits, prayers, and kind gestures.
Anthony Tuffery, rector of Kirkcudbright Academy, described Arkady as a “polite, respectful and hardworking young man,” expressing sadness at his passing. Tuffery conveyed that even though Arkady had been at the school for only one year, his impact would be remembered by the school community.
An observation of grief and remembrance marked Arkady Petrov’s service, as his family, friends, and community honour his legacy in the face of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
