Kyiv bid farewell to volunteer Vitalina Yarovenko, who was killed during an attack by the Russian Federation
A memorial service was held in the capital for Vitalina Yarovenko—a student at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and a volunteer who was killed during the Russian shelling of Kyiv on August 1. She was at the site of the strike as part of a volunteer group when the Russian attack took her life.
More than a hundred people came to see Vitalina off on her final journey—family, friends, volunteers, students, and concerned Kyiv residents. Those present honored her memory and thanked her for the help she provided to others right up until her last day.
Over a hundred people came to say goodbye to her: loved ones, family members, military personnel, and those who did not know her personally but chose to honor her memory.
Most people came dressed in white and carrying white flowers. The young woman’s mother had asked for this the day before.
After the funeral service at St. Michael’s Cathedral, a procession of cars and people headed to Independence Square, where a moment of silence was observed in memory of Vitalina.
During the memorial service, it was mentioned that during her school years, Vitalina Yarovenko had been involved in track and field and participated in athletic competitions. After the full-scale invasion began, she actively supported the military, regularly visited wounded soldiers in hospitals, and organized more than 30 fundraising events over the past four years.
At her university, Vitalina organized an event titled “First Psychological Aid.” In August 2025, she received the university’s military training chevron, and on September 6, she conducted her first tactical medicine class for students.
Vitalina assisted the “Hospitaliers” volunteer medical battalion as a volunteer, traveling to sites of Russian attacks to help the wounded. She was preparing to complete the medical battalion’s training and officially join it, but she didn’t have time.
“At 20, as a student, she could have been enjoying life and living her best years, but she chose a different path—one that was very difficult and dangerous. She helped people in the face of great danger,” said Natalia Chikhachova, head of the “Hospitaliers” support service.
Serhiy Beskrestnov (Flash), an advisor to the President of Ukraine, also attended the funeral. He promised that Vitalina’s death would be avenged: hundreds of drones bearing the inscription “For Vitalina” were sent toward the Russians.
This was reported by a hromadske correspondent.
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