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A pregnant soldier mourns her husband at his funeral in Ukraine

On Thursday, Sept. 3, mourners gathered at the Golden-Domed Monastery for the funeral of 21-year-old Ukrainian serviceman Danyil Smyrnov, killed on the Sumy front and survived by his pregnant wife, Yeva Smyrnova.
The couple met while serving in the military, both joining in 2023 at age 18 before marrying in July 2025, united by their shared commitment to fighting Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Known by the call sign "Surfer," Smyrnov served as a reconnaissance operator and military intelligence member, having previously suffered shrapnel wounds to both legs before returning to command an assault group.
His widow, Yeva, a drone pilot known as "Yunha," is expecting their son this month; his father, Oleksandr Smyrnov, recalled the soldier "dreamed of being the best father."
Smyrnov wrote, "War is not romance," in a message reflecting on the conflict, which also claimed two other soldiers in his four-man intelligence group.

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