A pregnant soldier, Yeva Smyrnova, mourned her 21-year-old husband, junior sergeant Danyil Smyrnov, at his funeral in Kyiv. He was killed in action on August 28, 2026, in northeastern Ukraine.
The story highlights the profound personal cost of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, illustrating the tragic loss experienced by families and the difficult choices faced by young individuals drawn into the war.
A pregnant soldier, Yeva Smyrnova, mourned her 21-year-old husband, junior sergeant Danyil Smyrnov, at his funeral in Kyiv. Smyrnov was killed in action on August 28, 2026, on the Sumy front in northeastern Ukraine, as part of a group of four soldiers serving with military intelligence.
Yeva Smyrnova, who serves as a drone pilot, met her husband when they were both 18 and joined the army in 2023. They married in July 2025, two years later, and decided to start a family. Their son is due this month. "We dreamed of this child, but because we were both always at war, it was very difficult," Smyrnova told The Associated Press.
Danyil Smyrnov, who also went by the call sign "Surfer," had left university studies in Lithuania to fight in Ukraine. He signed a military contract as soon as he turned 18, forging his father's signature. He commanded an assault group in the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, was wounded by shrapnel in both legs, underwent rehabilitation, and later transferred to Ukrainian military intelligence. His father, Oleksandr Smyrnov, struggled to speak about his son's death but found comfort in the impending arrival of his grandson.
The funeral service was held at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, a typical venue for soldiers killed in the war. Hundreds of mourners, including fellow soldiers, attended to pay their respects. In an earlier Instagram post, Danyil Smyrnov reflected on life and war, stating, "War is not romance. It’s an experience that strips you down to what’s real."