Ukrainian artist adorns Kyiv high-rises with images of fallen soldiers

Ukrainian artist adorns Kyiv high-rises with images of fallen soldiers
A car drives past murals of fallen Ukrainian soldiers of the Gonor unit of the First Separate Battalion's "Da Vinci Wolves" that was created by Ukrainian street artist Eugene Gladenko, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct 4, 2024.
PHOTO: Reuters

KYIV — Liudmyla Bordus lost her son Maksym to the war with Russia, but he is never far away — his likeness emblazoned in vivid colour across her apartment building in Kyiv.

Liudmyla Bordus sits with her mother Tamara in the bedroom of her son, fallen Ukrainian soldier Maksym Bordus,with a picture of Maksym's grandmother Tamara Bordus in the background, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct 18, 2024. 
PHOTO: Reuters

"I can feel him every day, every time I pass him here," she said, stroking the spray-painted image. 

"I greet him in the morning and in the evening, always." 

The sweeping mural of the 23-year-old former boxer is one of a dozen around the Ukrainian capital created by artist Eugene Gladenko to commemorate troops killed fighting Russian forces.

Moscow's February 2022 invasion galvanised Ukrainians, who have memorialised their fallen in myriad ways. Billboards tower over highways and plaques adorn village schools where soldiers studied.

Ukrainian street artist Eugene Gladenko poses for a picture in front of his mural of the fallen Ukrainian soldier Maksym Bordus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct 8, 2024. 
PHOTO: Reuters

Gladenko, 31, said he is motivated by love of country and a calling to "create comfort" for Ukrainians who have lost loved ones. Many of his creations are deeply personal, he added, ordered by relatives or friends. 

"Every story... is a story of a hero, an example for their entire district or neighbourhood," said Gladenko, whose own friend was killed in the war.

Bordus acknowledged that the image of Maksym, who was killed in southeastern Ukraine last June when a tank shell struck his trench, is painful. 

But she added that it was a potent reminder of the sacrifice made by Ukrainian troops like her son.

"It feels as if an angel is looking at you from above."

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    Video-taking ban at J-rock band My First Story's debut Singapore show results in superb concert experience
    $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms and 1 lawyer over seized properties
    Man arrested for slashing ex-girlfriend's neck with knife at Malaysian university
    Indonesia rescues 11 who swam for hours to survive boat capsize
    'Thousands' of Singaporeans shopping in JB driving up food, rental prices: Johor chief minister
    'Exceeding acceptable thresholds': World Aquatics event at Sentosa postponed over poor water quality
    We drive the new BYD Sealion 6 across Malaysia and (try to) answer your questions
    'My grandma and mum's recipe': Li Nanxing collaborates with Nan Yang Dao for hae bee hiam dishes
    Japan launches government body to address concerns over foreigners
    1 taken to hospital, 60 evacuated in Toa Payoh HDB flat fire
    Malaysian watch brand pays tribute to king of fruits with durian-inspired timepiece
    Medical practitioners must record Kpod cases, seize vapes: MOH, HSA

Singapore

Singapore
    • Joss paper burning allegedly sparks corridor fire in Chai Chee; 7 received medical aid
    • Man lodges police report after $400 of printed SG60 vouchers used by stranger
    • Fatal crash at Geylang pasar malam: Driver, passenger arrested
    • PCF holds family day event to celebrate SG60, sets new Singapore record
    • 'I worry for my kids': Loan sharks harass woman with funeral wreaths after friend allegedly uses her details
    • 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat
    • Up 4.3%: Singapore's economy grew in Q2 despite US tariff fears
    • Thousands turn up in Punggol for 3rd anniversary of Jack Neo's walking group Pa Pa Zao
    • Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN
    • I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • 'Wow, who is this girl?' Pierre Png and Cynthia Koh recall first time they met at water park as teens
    • 'How long can I continue to sing for?' JJ Lin diagnosed with heart condition in 2024
    • 'It feels like a dream': F4 reunite for first time in over 10 years during Mayday concert finale
    • 'I was so excited I wanted to cry': Fans spend up to $50k in auction to experience a day with Jackson Wang
    • Richard Gadd reveals why an entire episode of Baby Reindeer was dropped
    • Gaza documentary shown on BBC breached accuracy guideline, review finds
    • Gina Rodriguez is pregnant
    • Michael Jackson's daughter Paris 'concerned' about payments made by his estate

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Kaya toast, extra cute please: Breakfast-themed plushies with a local twist at Marina Square pop-up
    • Singapore coffee brand Alchemist debuts 2 outlets in Japan, marking first overseas venture
    • Now you can get Springleaf prata in a cup - with curry - from a vending machine
    • Orh Gao Taproom, popular bar by night and kopitiam by day in Serene Centre, to shutter
    • I thought childbirth was painful. Then I caught my baby's hand, foot and mouth disease
    • How a mother's warmth shapes a child's mental health, according to science
    • A first-time condo buyer's guide to evaluating property developers in Singapore
    • Things to do in Nagoya: A food lover's guide to Japan's underrated metropolis
    • Where $4m semi-Ds sit next to $40m GCBs: Touring First Avenue in Bukit Timah
    • This private chef served 9-course Malay fine dining from his HDB flat - and it blew me away

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers
    • 'Report 1 shop, another 10 appear': Hoyo Fest artists on copyright struggles
    • NTU penalises 3 students over use of AI tools; they dispute university's findings
    • Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
    • Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool

Money

Money
    • US planes, cars and drinks on EU list for potential tariffs
    • China suffers $9.7b in losses from natural disasters in H1 2025
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (July 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (July 2025): 50% cashback on public transit with Amex, win Business Class flights with HSBC and more
    • 9 best personal loans in Singapore with lowest interest rates (July 2025)
    • Temasek sees $45b rise in net portfolio value to record high of $434b amid global uncertainties
    • 'It's our grandfather's company, we won't sell', says Wong family as shareholders reject GE delisting bid
    • Japan, South Korea hit with 25% tariffs as Trump ramps up trade war in letters to leaders
    • Trump says alignment with BRICS' 'anti-American policies' to invite additional 10% tariffs
    • Regulators warned Air India Express about delay on Airbus engine fix, forging records

Latest

Latest
  • Daily roundup: World Aquatics event at Sentosa postponed over poor water quality — and other top stories today
  • Attacks against Palestinians intensify in occupied West Bank, says UN rights office
  • Taiwan's president to visit Paraguay in August
  • Trump says he is 'not done' with Putin, BBC reports
  • Australia and China call for more dialogue, cooperation at leaders' meeting
  • Magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes Luzon, Philippines, GFZ says
  • Ukraine's Zelenskiy proposes PM Shmyhal as new defence minister
  • Global childhood vaccination shows slight improvement but challenges remain
  • Rescued crew of Greek ship sunk by Houthis taken to Saudi Arabia

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Malaysian man strikes $4m lottery after betting on his, girlfriend's IC numbers for 3 years
  • Singaporean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times
  • JB mum forgets baby in car during shopping trip; cops, locksmith rescue infant
  • Lurid tale of China's cross-dressing 'red uncle' goes viral online
  • Climbers battle torrential waters after flash floods hit Mount Kinabalu; all 155 persons safe, says park
  • Jail for ex-auxiliary police officer who loaded 1 bullet and accidentally discharged revolver
  • Woman injured on SMRT bus after bottle thrown at vehicle shatters window
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.